Madonna was told that her "career was over" after her performance at the inaugural MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs).

The 68-year-old pop star performed Like a Virgin, her hit single, at the inaugural VMAs in 1984, and Madonna reminisced about that experience after winning the Artist of the Year gong at the latest edition of the awards ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday (09.27.26).

After receiving her accolade, Madonna recalled: "In those days, butt cheeks were not hanging out. I just want to remind you. And I went backstage feeling really proud of myself, and my manager told me that my career was over."

Madonna also shared that she's spent the last year and a half "finding myself, believing in myself, and really making the music that I wanted to make".

The chart-topping icon - who saw off competition from Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Morgan Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift to win the award - added: "I mean, that really is the definition of being an artist. And my hope for all of you here tonight is that you spend the next year, or the next 10 years, or the rest of your life doing the same, finding yourself and believing in yourself."

Madonna opened the show with a musical medley that marked her first VMA performance in 23 years.

The singer also shared a funny exchange with pop star Sabrina Carpenter after they won the Best Collaboration gong for their song Bring Your Love.

Madonna revealed that she initially waited five days for the blonde beauty's team to respond to her, before she decided to take matters into her own hands.

She shared: "I DM'd her. This is a true story - she answered me back, and within weeks we were in the studio together."

Speaking to Sabrina, Madonna then added: "I love working with you because you are so professional, and in this day and age, it's really hard to find professional people to work with."

Sabrina, though, stepped in to defend her team.

The 27-year-old star said: "My team is s******* themselves backstage.

"My team replies, just so everybody knows. They do respond to people, but I respond faster. So direct line to me is always the best way to get in contact."