Daily Recap: Entertainment — 28 September 2026

The day in entertainment centers on a VMAs ceremony shaped by legacy, tribute, and star power. Madonna dominates the awards and returns to the stage in a major opening performance, while Taylor Swift takes the top prize and Dolly Parton’s influence looms over the night through bo...

Madonna emerges as the biggest winner at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, taking seven Moon Person trophies after leading the field in nominations. The ceremony at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theatre crowns her as the night’s most decorated artist, while other major acts including Taylor Swift and BTS also collect high-profile honors.

Taylor Swift wins Video of the Year for her self-directed video “The Fate of Ophelia,” securing the VMAs’ top award. In her acceptance speech, she dedicates the honor to Dolly Parton, calling Parton “the ultimate showgirl” and tying the night’s biggest competitive moment to one of country and pop’s most enduring figures.

Madonna returns to the VMAs stage for the first time in 23 years and opens the ceremony with a high-profile medley. After a delay to the show, she launches the night alongside Sabrina Carpenter and Charli xcx, turning her comeback performance into one of the event’s central spectacle moments.

Kacey Musgraves delivers a tribute to the late Dolly Parton with a performance of “I Will Always Love You.” The emotional rendition gives the ceremony one of its most solemn and reflective moments, honoring Parton’s legacy in front of a mainstream pop audience at one of music television’s biggest annual events.

Rod Stewart says his 2027 “Final Encore” tour will be his last, framing the run as a farewell to touring rather than a retirement from music altogether. The 81-year-old says the time has come to step away from life on the road, marking a major career transition for the veteran performer.

Turkish comedian Deniz Goktas is convicted in Istanbul over remarks during a stand-up set that are deemed insulting to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The court orders his release after the case proceeds to trial following an investigation into comments made during a June performance.

Florence Pugh publicly addresses sexual assault allegations connected to Cornell University and also criticizes Instagram’s visibility controls. Her statement responds to a complaint filed by a woman identified as Jane Doe, who alleges she was intoxicated, drugged and assaulted by seven Cornell student defendants at a fraternity house in October 2024.