Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera teamed up at MTV's Video Music Awards to pay tribute to pop queen Madonna.
Britney Spears, Madonna and Christina Aguilera sang together
The pair dressed in white, bustier wedding dresses writhed on stage with Madonna in homage to the star's performance of Like a Virgin at the awards' inaugural show in 1984.
The younger singers then shared a kiss with Madonna when she came on stage in an all-black outfit to sing her latest song Hollywood.
In the prize giving, pop pin-ups Justin Timberlake and Beyonce Knowles won three awards - as did British group Coldplay.
Rap star Missy Elliott took the main award, best video, for her song Work It, which was also named best hip-hop video.
Country legend Johnny Cash, who had been a surprise contender after earning six nominations for his video Hurt, could not make the ceremony after being admitted to hospital with a stomach ailment.
MTV AWARDS WINNERS
Justin Timberlake (above) - 3
Coldplay - 3
Beyonce - 3
Missy Elliott - 2
50 Cent - 2
The 71-year-old was said to be watching the awards on television from his hospital bed.
Michael Jackson, Snoop Dogg and Jennifer Lopez were some of the stars from the world of rock, pop, hip-hop and R&B who turned up for the annual awards at New York's Radio City Music Hall.
Timberlake won best pop video and best male video for his hit Cry Me a River, plus best dance video for Rock Your Body.
Former Destiny's Child singer Beyonce picked up best female video and best R&B video for her song Crazy In Love, featuring Jay-Z.
Coldplay's The Scientist won best group video plus best direction and breakthrough video, while Radiohead won best art direction for There There.
The best rock video award went to Linkin Park for Somewhere I Belong while the viewers' choice went to Good Charlotte for Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.
Eminem won best video from a film for Lose Yourself, and his protege 50 Cent took best rap video and best new artist.
Johnny Cash's Hurt video earned six nominations
Johnny Cash's haunting Hurt video had threatened to upstage the pop stars after receiving six nominations.
The cover of the Nine Inch Nails song had been reworked to make it reflect on Cash's life, and featured his wife June who died shortly after the filming.
It went on to pick up one award, for best cinematography.
Cash suffers from autonomic neuropathy, a disease of the nervous system that makes him susceptible to pneumonia. He has been in hospital several times in recent years.
However, manager Lou Robins described his latest hospital stay as an "isolated incident" and said the singer was due to record a new album in Los Angeles next week.