Miley Cyrus stunned the crowd at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York at the 2013 VMAs on August 25. Her "We Can't Stop" performance featured Cyrus' now-signature twerking and a crotch grab or two. After she donned the fuzzy gray leotard pictured here ...
... Miley Cyrus stripped down to a flesh-toned bra and panties while Robin Thicke performed "Blurred Lines" with 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar.
To receiving the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, Justin Timberlake took the VMAs audience back in time through his jams, from his new single "Take Back the Night" to "SexyBack" and "Cry Me a River." And then ...
'N Sync "
Drake performed "Hold On, We're Going Home" and "Started From the Bottom."
Bruno Mars took to the VMAs stage in a leopard print button-down and performed his new single "Gorilla" among laser beams and bursts of fire.
After being introduced by NBA player Jason Collins and A$AP Rocky, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis performed their gay marriage equality song "Same Love" with Mary Lambert.
Kanye West performed a stirring rendition of "Blood on the Leaves" in silhouette, against a backdrop of Steve McQueen's "Lynching Tree."
Lady Gaga returned to the VMAs stage for the first time in two years. She opened the show with her new single "Applause," featuring the singer's requisite multiple costume and hair changes, staring with this conceptual get-up ...
and ending in a sea-shell bra and flower-festooned thong.
Katy Perry was ready to rumble while playing her chart-topping single "Roar" under the Brooklyn Bridge. The song closed out the VMAs.
- MTV's Video Music Awards were held in New York for the first time in four years
- Lady Gaga returned to the stage; Miley Cyrus' racy performance surprised fans
- Macklemore and Ryan Lews took the spotlight to advocate for marriage equality
(CNN) -- Forget about the Moonmen. It was all about the performances at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards.
The VMAs were held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn; it was the first time the show has been held in New York in four years.
From Lady Gaga's return to the VMAs stage in search of to the not-so-secret 'N SYNC reunion, we count down the most memorable VMA moments.
Photos: 2013 VMAs: Stars rock the red carpet
Members of One Direction arrive at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on Sunday, August 25. Take a look at other stars working the red carpet:
Rita Ora
Austin Mahone
Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi
Sammi 'Sweetheart' Giancola and Ronnie Magro
Ellie Goulding
Ed Sheeran
Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins and Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas of TLC
Wiz Khalifa
Deena Cortese
Ciara
Vinny Guadagnino
2 Chainz
Jenni 'Jwoww' Farley and Roger Mathews
Daft Punk
Willow Smith and Jaden Smith
Will Smith
Sarah Hyland
Allison Williams
Jennifer Hudson
Ashanti
Shailene Woodley
Selena Gomez
Taylor Swift
Tricia Davis and Macklemore
Darren Criss
Drake
Katy Perry
Robin Thicke and Paula Patton
Lady Gaga
Miley Cyrus
Richard Simmons
Ariana Grande
2013 VMAs: Stars rock the red carpet
1. Lady Gaga gets a round of "Applause"
The provocateur was surprisingly tame for her return to the VMAs stage and first performance of her new single, "Applause." Lady Gaga opened the VMAs with a tight shot of her wide-eyed face surrounded by a sea of white. When the camera zoomed out, it was revealed that Gaga was wearing a white cardboard square on her head and a long white robe. It was no meat dress, but the singer went through a number of costume changes during her act, eventually ending up in a seashell bra and thong.
2. Miley Cyrus twerks the stage
Miley Cyrus' performance of "We Can't Stop" surely turned heads with her skimpy outfit, twerking and several crotch grabs. Miley wore a furry leotard and danced around the stage with oversize teddy bears. But it was her collaboration with Robin Thicke for his hit single, "Blurred Lines" that caused a gasp among the crowd. Miley stripped down to a nude bra and underwear and, with a foam finger in hand, she proceeded to grind her body hard against Thicke, making his controversial music video seem PG-rated.
3. Taylor Swift's boy "Trouble"
It was four years ago on the VMAs stage that Taylor Swift was interrupted by Kanye West during her big moment. After vowing to keep a stronger grip on the mic this time, Swift proudly claimed her award for Best Female Video for "I Knew You Were Trouble." But it wouldn't really be the VMAs without an awkward Taylor run-in. During her speech, she said, "I want to thank the person that inspired this song -- and he knows exactly who he is -- because I got one of these!" Cut to Swift's ex Harry Styles of One Direction in the audience. But it was an earlier moment caught on camera that got the Twitterverse buzzing. When One Direction presented Selena Gomez with "Best Pop Video" for "Come and Get It," cameras caught a glimpse of Swift allegedly mouthing the words, "Shut the f--- up" . It may not have been as scandalous as Kanye's "I'mma let you finish but ..." moment but it was enough to get the Taylor GIFs started.
2013 VMAs: Complete winners list
4. Katy Perry's TKO
In another debut performance - and perhaps another competition with Gaga - Katy Perry closed out the 2013 MTV VMA's with her new hit single, "Roar." Perry gave a ferocious performance under the Brooklyn Bridge in a set designed to look like a boxing ring, while she rocked a tiger print sports bra and satin shorts.
5. Macklemore's 'Love' for everyone
It was fitting that basketball player Jason Collins, who came out earlier this year, helped introduce Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. The hip-hop duo took home three Moonmen, including one for "Best Video with a Social Message" for "Same Love." The duo also performed the marriage equality anthem for supportive fans who were treated to guest vocalists Mary Lambert and Jennifer Hudson
Photos: Coming out in Hollywood
6: Justin Timberlake: President of Pop
Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Kanye West and Drake were all great, but the artist fans were really waiting for was Justin TImberlake - and they were treated to the full "20/20 Experience." Ten years after JT made his solo debut at the VMAs, he was honored with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, presented by "Late Night" host Jimmy Fallon. The multi-hyphenate earned a standing ovation as he sang and danced his way through his hits starting with the new "Take Back the Night" and working backward to the worst-kept secret in Hollywood: Timberlake and his former boy band brethren 'N SYNC reunited on stage. Lance Bass, J.C. Chasez, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick came together for a brief walk down memory lane to sing "Girlfriend" and "Bye Bye Bye."
Timberlake might have tied with Macklemore and Lewis for most Video Music Awards with three Moonmen each, but only one of them had a 20 minute chunk of the show devoted to him. As JT said in his modified version of "SexyBack," "I still run this b---h."
