Olivia Rodrigo, BTS, Bruno Mars, Anderson Paak win at MTV Awards

Olivia Rodrigo accepts one of three Video Music Award.

After her blockbuster debut as a pop singer, it was no surprise that Olivia Rodrigo was named the VIdeo Music Award's Best New Artist of the Year.

The VMA Awards returned Sunday at the  with live performances in front of an audience at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NYC.

The Filipino American artist also won Best Song for her breakout hit "Drivers' License." She also won in the category of Push Performance of the Year.

"I want to thank all of you guys the fans. This is so incredible," she said as she accepted her Moon Person trophy. "This has been the most magical year of my life and it is all because of you guys so thank you so much. Thank you to the VMAs and everyone who helped me make Sour," Rodrigo''s first album.

"I want to dedicate this award to all the girls who write songs on their bedroom floor... speaking your mind and sharing your work is one of the most beautiful things in the world," she added.

Rodrigo, star of Disney's "High School Musical: The Musical: the Series," was also nominated for Artist of the Year and her second hit "Good 4 U" was nominated for Best Pop. 

Other Asian or AAPI artists who won a VMA Award include:

BTS, the Korean boy group, which won two awards for Best K-pop for their single "Butter"  and the award as the Best Group. Because of COVID-19 travel restrictions, the group could not attend in person but were able to thank their fans with a video.

"Thanks for this award," the group said. "Sorry we couldn't be there, but hopefully next time we will," 

"We've been so blessed and grateful for all of the love we received this year. Shoutout to ARMY! You're the best people in the world. We'll keep bringing great music for all of you guys. Love you all!"

Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak won Best R&B song for their collaboration as Silk Sonic for "Leave the Door Open."

EDITOR'S NOTE: For more commentary and observations, follow me on Twitter @dioknoed. 

Dwayne Johnson rocks MTV Awards

SCREEN CAPTURE / BET

Lana Condor and Noah Centineo accept their MTV award.

Superstar Dwayne Johnson paid tribute to his mixed-race heritage with a bevy of breakdancers and Samoans performing the siva tua, the Samoan version of the Maori haka to the Queen classic song "We Will Rock You" at the MTV Movie & TV Awards.

The glitzy entrance was surpassed by his passionate acceptance speech for receiving the Icon Generation Award.

“I thank you, all of you at home. You are the reason I’m getting this…I want to share a really quick lesson with you guys, I’ve learned the most powerful thing we can be is ourselves,” he said.

SCREEN CAPTURE / BET
Dwayne Johnson accepts MTV's Icon Generation award.

“We are still that little kid just aspiring to be something better, aspiring to be important. When I first got to Hollywood, Hollywood they didn’t know what the hell to do with me. I mean I was half black, half Samoan, six-foot-four, 275-pound pro wrestler…I was told at that time you’ve got to be a certain way, you’ve got to drop some weight, you’ve got to be somebody different, you’ve got to stop working out, stop doing the things that I love, you’ve got to stop calling yourself ‘The Rock.’ For years I bought into it because you think, ‘Oh, that’s what I’m supposed to do and I was miserable doing that. I made a choice that I wasn’t going to conform to Hollywood, Hollywood was going to conform to me,” he continued.

"So, yes it’s important that you are your most authentic self.”

According to MTV, "the Generation Award celebrates actors whose diverse contributions to film and television have turned them into household names in the industry." Past winners have included Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pratt, Will Smith, Sandra Bullock, and Tom Cruise.

The former pro wrestler closed his speech with this sage advice: “When I was 15, I heard a quote and I’ll never forget it, 'It’s nice to be important but it’s more important to be nice.'”

MTV, which still caters to a youthful audience, also gave The Best Kiss award to Lana Condor and Noah Centineo for their kiss in the Netflix romantic comedy To All The Boys I Ever Loved.

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