Eminem Opens Mtv Video Music Awards In Style

EMINEM completed his comeback in majestic style at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday (12Sep10) when he opened the prizegiving in Los Angeles with a showstopping performance, joined by an army of drummers and RIHANNA.

Despite announcing she would not be a part of the show, R&B beauty Rihanna joined Eminem for the pair’s chart topping hit Love the Way You Lie.

Wearing a frilly white fairy dress and sporting new flame red hair, Rihanna prowled around the Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live stage as Eminem spat out rhymes.

He also fired out his Not Afraid hit in what appeared to be a small club, not dissimilar to the one recreated for his semi-autobiographical film 8 Mile. But the brick wall behind him opened up to reveal the stage of the VMAs and he walked out to rapturous applause.

But the rapper couldn’t stay for the show itself - and was on a plane bound for New York, where he’s performing two concerts at Yankee Stadium with Jay-Z, when his name was called as the winner of the Best Male Video prize for Not Afraid.

Justin Bieber was also a major highlight of the show - the teen pop sensation performed live outside the venue after rolling up in an open-top 1957 Chevy Bel Air.

Wearing all black, he ripped through Baby and Somebody To Love with a group of inch-perfect dancers.

The talented teenager wrapped up his performance with a brief drum solo.

Bieber’s mentor Usher also performed - his Tron-inspired two-song set was a lights spectacular - and Britain’s Florence & The Machine was a big hit, stirring up the audience with a magical version of Dog Days Are Over with a choir and a gang of dancing drummers.