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
Winner: Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya & Pink f/ Missy - Lady Marmalade

Best Male Video

  • Moby f/ Gwen Stefani - South Side
  • Eminem f/ Dido - Stan
  • Lenny Kravitz - Again
  • Nelly - Ride Wit Me
  • Robbie Williams - Rock DJ
Winner: Moby f/ Gwen Stefani - South Side

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
Winner: Eve f/ Gwen Stefani

Best Group Video

  • NSYNC - Pop
  • Dave Matthews Band - I Did It
  • Destiny's Child - Survivor
  • Incubus - Drive
  • U2 - Elevation Remix
Winner: NSYNC - Pop

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
Winner: NSYNC - Pop

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
Winner: Nelly - Ride Wit Me

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
Winner: Destiny's Child

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
Winner: OutKast - Ms. Jackson

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
Winner: NSYNC - Pop

Best Rock Video

  • Limp Bizkit - Rollin
  • Aerosmith - Jaded
  • Linkin Park - Crawling
  • Staind - It's Been Awhile
  • Weezer - H Pipe
Winner: Limp Bizkit - Rollin

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
Winner: NSYNC - Pop

Best New Artist

  • Alicia Keys - Fallin
  • Coldplay - Yellow
  • Nikka Costa - Like A Feather
  • David Gray - Babylon
  • Sum 41 - Fat Lip
Winner: Alicia Keys - Fallin

MTV2 Award

  • Mudvayne - Dig
  • India.Arie - Video
  • Craig David - Fill Me In
  • Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood
  • Jurassic 5 - Quality Control
  • Alicia Keys - Fallin'
Winner: Mudvayne - Dig

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
Winner: Fatboy Slim - Weapon of Choice

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
Winner: Christina Aguilera & Lil' Kim & Mya & Pink f/ Missy - Lady Marmalade

Best Direction

  • Fatboy Slim - Weapon of Choice
  • Eminem f/ Dido - Stan
  • Linkin Park - Crawling
  • Outkast - Ms. Jackson
  • R.E.M. - Imitation of Life
Winner: Fatboy Slim - Weapon of Choice

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
Winner: Fatboy Slim - Weapon of Choice

Best Special Effects

  • Robbie Williams
  • Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott - Get Ur Freak On
  • Fatboy Slim - Weapon of Choice
  • U2 - Elevation Remix
Winner: Robbie Williams

Best Art Direction

  • Fatboy Slim - Weapon of Choice
  • Aerosmith - Jaded
  • Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood
Winner: Fatboy Slim - Weapon of Choice

Best Editing

  • Fatboy Slim - Weapon of Choice
  • NSYNC - Pop
  • Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott - Get Ur Freak On
  • U2 - Elevation Remix
Winner: Fatboy Slim - Weapon of Choice

Best Cinematography

  • Fatboy Slim - Weapon of Choice
  • Aerosmith - Jaded
  • Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott - Get Ur Freak On
  • Eminem f/ Dido – Stan
Winner: Fatboy Slim - Weapon of Choice