The 21st century was here and MTV had to put on a show worthy to usher in the new century. So they decided to get back to the legendry Metropolitan Opera House in New York with Jamie Foxx as the Master of Ceremony. The super talented Foxx led the show with an operatic medley of some of the year’s big hits. Weapon of Choice featuring the Academy Award winning Christopher Walken fetched Fatboy Slim six shiny Moonmen in 2001 including Breakthrough Video and Best Direction. NSYNC came in second with a haul of four awards including Best Dance Video, Best Group Video, Best Pop Video and Viewer's Choice.Michael Jackson made a surprise visit to the VMAs when he appeared out of nowhere and did a little jig to Timberlake’s ‘Beatboxing’. Lady Marmalade took the Video of the Year and Christina Aguilera, Lil Kim, Mya, Pink and Missy Elliot all got one award each for their contribution to the song. Alicia Keys was awarded the Best New Artist for her song Fallin’.
Britney Spears did not disappoint with her performance of I'm a Slave 4 U, dancing with tigers and snakes, unfortunately for her, PETA took notice and she was given a lesson what not to use as props. U2 also performed Elevation and Stuck in a Moment, stuck without an elevator riser, Bono joked that MTV had forgot to pay the electricity bills. Others on the bill included Linkin Park, Jay-Z, Jennifer Lopez feat. Ja Rule, Missy Elliott feat. Ludacris, Nelly Furtado & Trina. MTV seemed happy with the show save for Bono’s comment.
List of Nominees and Winners at the MTV Video Music Awards 2001
Video of the Year
- Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya & Pink f/ Missy - Lady Marmalade
- Eminem f/ Dido - Stan
- Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott - Get Ur Freak On
- Fatboy Slim - Weapon of Choice
- Janet Jackson - All For You
- U2 - Beautiful Day
Best Male Video
- Moby f/ Gwen Stefani - South Side
- Eminem f/ Dido - Stan
- Lenny Kravitz - Again
- Nelly - Ride Wit Me
- Robbie Williams - Rock DJ
Best Female Video
- Eve f/ Gwen Stefani
- Dido - Thank You
- Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott - Get Ur Freak On
- Janet Jackson - All For You
- Jennifer Lopez - Love Don't Cost A Thing
- Madonna - Don't Tell Me
Best Group Video
- NSYNC - Pop
- Dave Matthews Band - I Did It
- Destiny's Child - Survivor
- Incubus - Drive
- U2 - Elevation Remix
Best Pop Video
- NSYNC - Pop
- Christina Aguilera & Lil' Kim & Mya & Pink f/ Missy - Lady Marmalade
- Backstreet Boys - The Call
- Destiny's Child - Survivor
- Britney Spears – Stronger
Best Rap Video
- Nelly - Ride Wit Me
- Eminem f/ Dido - Stan
- Ja Rule f/ Lil' Mo - Put It On Me
- Jay-Z - I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)
- Snoop Dogg f/ Nate Dogg, Master P, Butch Cassidy & Tha Eastsidaz - Lay Low
Best R&B Video
- Destiny's Child
- 112 - Peaches & Cream
- Sunshine Anderson - Heard It All Before
- R. Kelly - I Wish
- Jill Scott - Getting In the Way
Best Hip-Hop Video
- OutKast - Ms. Jackson
- Black Eyed Peas f/ Macy Gray - Request Line
- City High - What Would You Do?
- Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott - Get Ur Freak On
- Eve f/ Gwen Stefani - Let Me Blow Ya Mind
Best Dance Video
- NSYNC - Pop
- Christina Aguilera & Lil' Kim & Mya & Pink f/ Missy - Lady Marmalade
- Fatboy Slim - Weapon of Choice
- Janet Jackson - All For You
- Jennifer Lopez - Love Don't Cost A Thing
Best Rock Video
- Limp Bizkit - Rollin
- Aerosmith - Jaded
- Linkin Park - Crawling
- Staind - It's Been Awhile
- Weezer - H Pipe
Viewer's Choice
- NSYNC - Pop
- Backstreet Boys - The Call
- Destiny's Child - Independent Woman Part 1
- Eve f/ Gwen Stefani - Let Me Blow Ya Mind
- Limp Bizkit - My Way
- Nelly - Ride Wit Me
Best New Artist
- Alicia Keys - Fallin
- Coldplay - Yellow
- Nikka Costa - Like A Feather
- David Gray - Babylon
- Sum 41 - Fat Lip
MTV2 Award
- Mudvayne - Dig
- India.Arie - Video
- Craig David - Fill Me In
- Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood
- Jurassic 5 - Quality Control
- Alicia Keys - Fallin'
Breakthrough Video
- Fatboy Slim - Weapon of Choice
- NSYNC - Pop
- Common f/ Macy Gray - Geto Heaven
- Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood
- R.E.M. - Imitation of Life
- Robbie Williams - Rock DJ
Best Video From A Film
- Christina Aguilera & Lil' Kim & Mya & Pink f/ Missy - Lady Marmalade
- Destiny's Child - Independent Woman Part 1
- DMX - Ain't No Sunshine
- K-Ci & JoJo - Crazy
- U2 - Elevation Remix
Best Direction
- Fatboy Slim - Weapon of Choice
- Eminem f/ Dido - Stan
- Linkin Park - Crawling
- Outkast - Ms. Jackson
- R.E.M. - Imitation of Life
Best Choreography
- Fatboy Slim - Weapon of Choice
- Christina Aguilera & Lil' Kim & Mya & Pink f/ Missy - Lady Marmalade
- Janet Jackson - All For You
- Madonna - Don't Tell Me
Best Special Effects
- Robbie Williams
- Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott - Get Ur Freak On
- Fatboy Slim - Weapon of Choice
- U2 - Elevation Remix
Best Art Direction
- Fatboy Slim - Weapon of Choice
- Aerosmith - Jaded
- Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood
Best Editing
- Fatboy Slim - Weapon of Choice
- NSYNC - Pop
- Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott - Get Ur Freak On
- U2 - Elevation Remix
Best Cinematography
- Fatboy Slim - Weapon of Choice
- Aerosmith - Jaded
- Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott - Get Ur Freak On
- Eminem f/ Dido – Stan