It was a pop tragedy when Britney Spears, alongside Madonna and Christina Aguilera, misplaced to Katy Perry for the Most Iconic Efficiency on the 2024 Video Music Awards Wednesday night time (Sept. 11).

Perry, who was deservedly honored with the Video Vanguard award this yr, beat out the extra objectively iconic performances in her class — together with Madonna’s 1984 “Like a Virgin,” Girl Gaga‘s bloody 2009 “Paparazzi” — along with her 2013 efficiency of “Roar.” (Do not come for me, fellow Katy Cats: It was a great efficiency, sure! However nowhere close to as zeitgeist-stirring because the aforementioned ones, we should admit.)

Maybe much more tragic and baffling, Spears’ iconic solo efficiency of “I am a Slave 4 U” on the 2001 VMAs wasn’t even nominated within the class.

READ MORE: 2024 MTV Video Music Awards Winners Listing

Nevertheless, regardless of Spears’ efficiency not being nominated, and Spears not even being on the present this yr (not that she was anticipated to), the reigning Princess of Pop’s lasting mark was throughout MTV’s annual awards present tonight.

The Holy Spearit was first resurrected on the pink carpet earlier than the present even kicked off, when pop artist Tate McRae — herself a faithful Spears fan and who was even not too long ago interviewed by Spears — paid homage to Britney in a lacy black look extremely harking back to the “Womanizer” singer’s 2001 Dolce & Gabbana VMAs pink carpet costume.

Presenter and pop artist Addison Rae, whose personal music and profession has been likened to Spears, additionally confirmed her love for Spears earlier than the awards present.

Throughout a pre-show interview, Rae gushed over Britney’s VMAs appears through the years. “She is an icon,” Rae stated, notably shouting out the singer’s 2000 cowl efficiency of Rolling Stones’ “(I Cannot Get No) Satisfaction.”

Spears was additionally closely referenced throughout a VMAs fortieth anniversary promo when host Megan Thee Stallion got here out in a dressing up paying tribute to Spears’ legendary 2001 “I am a Slave 4 U” efficiency outfit, full with a dwell snake wrapped round her arms.

Megan did not final lengthy due to her slithery pal, sadly, however it’s no query Spears’ jungle-themed 23-year previous efficiency stays some of the iconic moments within the historical past of the VMAs — in addition to some of the iconic moments within the historical past of fashionable leisure, interval.

In a while, Britney was lovingly referenced but once more when fellow blonde pop princess and former Disney darling Sabrina Carpenter included Spears’ cheeky “Oops!… I Did It Once more” monologue firstly of her space-themed efficiency, which additionally nodded to Britney’s “Oops!…” music video with its astronauts and total intergalactic aesthetic.

Whether or not she’s acting on stage or not, being honored with an award or not, Britney Spears’ is an inimitable, omnipresent pressure — on the MTV VMAs, within the leisure business, and in popular culture at massive.

In spite of everything: She’s Britney, bitch.