20 Years Ago, The 2002 VMAs Looked Like This

Back when he was a Saturday Night Live cast member, Jimmy Fallon was tapped to host the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall In New York City.

Paris and Nicky Hilton attended, though Paris wouldn’t make her reality show debut on The Simple Life until 2003.

Pink arrived with her boyfriend Corey Hart, whom she married a few years later in 2006. They now have two children together.

Back then, the Olsen twins didn’t mind life in the limelight and appeared together to present the Breakthrough Video award.

Christina Aguilera was comfortable in her own skin in a revealing top and denim skirt on the red carpet.

James Brown appeared in Fallon’s opening skit and introduced Britney Spears, who gave the night’s first award.

Britney Spears introduced Michael Jackson and wished happy birthday in a sweet tribute. In a misunderstanding, MJ thought he was receiving the Artist of the Millennium Award. The duo then gave out the Best Pop Video trophy to No Doubt.

Eminem performed “White America” and “Cleanin’ Out My Closet” and took home four awards — the most by any artist that night.

Justin Timberlake made his solo performance debut for his song “Like I Love You.”

A year after 9/11, Bronx native JLo introduced then-mayor of NYC Rudy Guiliani. The VMAs show moved from September to August in 2002 to avoid conflicting with the tragedy’s anniversary.

Nothing was more 2002 than American Idol and the two finalists of the first season — Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini — graced the red carpet. Clarkson went on to win the title a week later.

“Sk8er Boi” singer Avril Lavigne opened the pre-show and even won the “Best New Artist in a Video” award for “Complicated.”

Before Gwen Stefani’s massive solo career, she was the lead singer of No Doubt. The band won two awards that night for the song “Hey Baby.”

Travis Barker attended with his then-girlfriend, former Miss USA Shanna Moakler. They were married for four years from 2004 to 2008. Barker went on to marry Kourtney Kardashian 20 years later in 2022.

The Sopranos star James Gandolfini went full New Jersey and introduced Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band. Steven Van Zandt, E-Street Band guitarist and Gandolfini’s Sopranos co-star, stood next to him onstage.

Heath Ledger, Brittany Murphy, and James Gandolfini are among the celebrities at the 2002 show that are no longer with us today.

Enrique Iglesias and future wife, tennis pro Anna Kournikova, wore casual attire to the awards show, where he presented Best R&B Video.

Four months prior to the VMAs, TLC member Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes died in a car accident in Honduras. Her bandmates Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Rozonda “Chili” Thomas paid tribute to her in a tearful segment.

P. Diddy took the stage with Usher, Busta Rhymes, and Pharrell.

Axl Rose’s band Guns N’ Roses closed the show with a three-part medley.