Beyonce slays at 2016 VMAs

Associated Press

NEW YORK

Beyonce owned Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards by winning video of the year and giving a 16-minute performance featuring her recent hits from “Lemonade,” working various stages with strong, layered vocals, skilled dance moves and even an outfit change – all as the audience watched in awe and cheered her on.

Her lengthy performance was reminiscent of the 2014 VMAs, when Beyonce also performed for 16 minutes and accepted the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award. This year it was awarded to Rihanna, who split up her performances throughout the night.

Beyonce, who had 11 nominations and took home six trophies, arrived angel-winged and green-feathered with daughter Blue Ivy in tow along with Sybrina Fulton, Lezley McSpadden and Gwen Carr, the mothers of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and Eric Garner, among others. They appeared in videos for Beyonce’s “Lemonade” visual album and also make up the Mothers of the Movement, women of color who lost children to violence.

Other performers included Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj, Britney Spears and Future.

David Bowie – who died from cancer earlier this year – received four nominations for “Lazarus” and won best art direction. The music video, which shows him looking frail in bed with bandaged eyes, was released just days before the icon’s Jan. 10 death.