The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards began Sunday night with a tribute to Michael Jackson that featured a heartfelt speech from Madonna, a video montage with dancers and a performance by Janet Jackson.

The telecast from New York's Radio City Music Hall started as Madonna walked onstage with no introduction and launched into a speech about the late King of Pop. She listed the parallels between their lives, saying she thought Jackson's childhood stardom was a worse fate than the loss of her mother when Madonna was only six years old. She then talked about his career, their brief friendship and his legacy while the crowd of A-list celebrities cheered.

When Madonna finished, dancers took the stage, copying Jackson's best known moves from his most famous videos, kicking off with 'Thriller.' But the highlight came when his sister Janet, who organized the tribute, came onstage to sing and dance along to their 1995 duet 'Scream.' The tribute ended with Janet at the front of the stage while Michael towered behind her on the video screen.

The show continued with Katy Perry and Aerosmith's Joe Perry covering Queen's 'We Will Rock You' as host Russell Brand made his grand entrance.