Look Back at Queen Bey's Incredible VMAs Moments

Updated on 9/3/2016 at 1:00 PM

Beyoncé was recognized with the Michael Jackson video vanguard award at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2014, and the honor couldn't have come at a more perfect time. After a hugely successful year — thanks to a Billboard No. 1 charting album, blowout Super Bowl halftime-show performance, and not one but two sold-out tours — Queen Bey was perfectly poised to receive the award, which was rightfully named after one of her biggest inspirations as an entertainer. Not only was she presented with her gold Moonman by husband Jay Z and their daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, but Beyoncé also performed an epic 16-minute medley of her surprise visual album to a packed house of celebrity fans. It was, to say the least, an incredible night.

In true Beyoncé fashion, the singer hit the stage in 2016 for another medley of her work, this time from her visual album Lemonade. The powerful performance tackled police brutality, infidelity, and feminism, and the videos for "Formation" and "Hold Up" garnered Beyoncé three Moonmen. This all came after she walked the red carpet with her 4-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy, who wore an adorable princess gown and wings.

Since gaining fame as a member of Destiny's Child in the late '90s, Beyoncé has been a fixture at many VMAs ceremonies and has taken the stage multiple times to perform, present, and accept trophies. From her first time walking the red carpet with Jay Z to being caught in the middle of a controversial moment between Taylor Swift and Kanye West to her epic pregnancy announcement after a 2011 performance of "Love on Top," we're taking a trip down memory lane with Beyoncé's most memorable VMAs moments over the years.

2000: Destiny's Child picked up the best R&B video award for "Say My Name."

Beyoncé wore a black leather maxi dress with a corset — there's no way that was comfortable.

2001: Beyoncé, Kelly, and Michelle walked the red carpet together in their signature matching-but-not-matching ensembles.

During the show, they won the best R&B video award again, this time for "Survivor."

2003: Beyoncé skipped the red carpet and instead entered the VMAs from the heavens above.

Because she could.

2003: She sang "Baby Boy" before performing "Crazy in Love" with Jay Z. Everyone went nuts.

At the time, it was their sexiest performance ever — 11 years later, this happened.

Beyoncé - MTV 2003 VMA - Baby Boy/Crazy In Love

2003: Beyoncé scooped up three Moonmen.

She won the awards for best female video, best R&B video, and best choreography for "Crazy in Love." She got emotional while accepting one of the trophies, saying, "I have to thank my foundation, Destiny's Child. If it wasn’t for Kelly and Michelle, I wouldn’t be here."

2004: Beyoncé and Jay Z made their red carpet debut as a couple at the VMAs in Miami.

Please note that this was the very first time that Beyoncé and Jay Z had walked a red carpet together. They stepped off a yacht and onto the red carpet and basically looked like the king and queen of hip-hop prom. Both of them had stayed quiet about their relationship, so everyone was shocked when, at the end of her acceptance speech for best female video, Beyoncé said, "What up, Jay?"

2005: Despite having already gone solo, Beyoncé attended the VMAs one last time with Destiny's Child.

Beyoncé, Kelly, and Michelle were nominated for best dance video for "Lose My Breath" and best group video for "Soldier." Both singles were from their fourth and final album, Destiny Fulfilled.

2006: She took home the best R&B video award for "Check on It."

And posed with the Moonman in a gorgeous cutout dress.

2006: Beyoncé descended from the sky again, this time to perform "Ring the Alarm."

Her amazing performance was pretty much a preview of her and Jay Z's outlaw-themed music video for "Part II (On the Run)."

Beyonce - Ring The Alarm Live @MTV Video Music Awards 2006

2007: Beyoncé walked the red carpet looking like a golden goddess.

She and Shakira took home the most earthshattering collaboration award for their song "Beautiful Liar."

2009: Beyoncé gave a truly jaw-dropping performance of "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" on the VMAs stage.

The world, of course, lost its mind.

Beyoncé Single Ladies Live MTV VMA 2009

2009: After Kanye West wouldn't let Taylor Swift finish her acceptance speech for best female video, Beyoncé let her finish.

Kanye West infamously interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech during the 2009 show because he felt that Beyoncé's "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" should have taken the trophy instead. So when she won the Moonman for video of the year, Beyoncé took the opportunity to invite Taylor back on stage to finish her speech, saying, "I remember being 17 years old and up for my first MTV award with Destiny's Child, and it was one of the most exciting moments in my life. So I'd like for Taylor to come out and have her moment."

Beyonce lets Taylor finish her speech

2011: Beyoncé hit the red carpet in a loose-fitting orange gown, clutching her growing baby bump.

After months and months of pregnancy rumors, the media was finally right.

2011: She performed "Love on Top" and officially announced her pregnancy.

Beyoncé's big news was the center of attention during her performance of "Love on Top." She wore a sequined Dolce & Gabbana blazer on stage, and at the end of the song, she stripped it off to show her baby bump. Her husband, Jay Z, looked giddy in the audience with Kanye West, who was ready to celebrate with his good friends.

2014: After a three-year VMAs hiatus, Beyoncé blessed the red carpet in a floor-length gown.

She arrived at The Forum in LA just minutes before the start of the show . . . and almost an hour after everyone else, because Beyoncé.

2014: She performed a 16-minute medley of her self-titled visual album that may very well have changed a few lives.

It goes without saying that she tore the house down, but little Blue Ivy nearly stole the show with her adorable dance moves from the audience. See the most transcendent moments in GIF form here.

2014: Jay Z and Blue Ivy introduced Beyoncé as the winner of the MTV Video Vanguard Award.

After months of divorce rumors, the couple shared a hug and a kiss onstage.

2014: After closing the show in the fiercest way possible, Beyoncé posed in the press room with her four Moonmen.

2016: After two year, Beyoncé was back on the red carpet — this time with 4-year-old Blue Ivy.

The two arrived hand in hand, Beyoncé clad in a Francesco Scognamiglio feathered gown covered in crystals and Blue wearing a fluffy princess dress complete with wings. The mother-daughter duo also sported matching braids and walked the carpet with a posse of Lemonade stars, including her artists Chloe and Halle Bailey, model Winnie Harlow, and the mothers of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown.

2016: She gave an incredibly powerful performance of her Lemonade hits.

And yes, it will give you chills.