Why Jennifer Lopez Missed Madonna, Britney Spears VMAs Performance
Jennifer Lopez was nearly a part of Madonna’s iconic 2003 VMAs performance of “Like A Virgin” with Britney Spears but was replaced by Christina Aguilera.
By Daysia Tolentino Jun 09, 2026 5:14 PMTags
Why Jennifer Lopez Dropped Out of Madonna, Britney Spears’ 2003 VMAs Performance
Jennifer Lopez couldn’t get right with her schedule.
That’s why she missed out on being a part of the iconic MTV VMAs performance of Madonna’s “Like A Virgin” featuring Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera in 2003.
“I was working on a movie, Shall We Dance, at the same time,” the 56-year-old explained to Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live on June 8. “And they just wouldn't let me out of the movie, but we rehearsed and everything. I went to Madonna's house. It was me, her, and Britney.”
As for whether the trio rehearsed that now-famous kiss, the “Get Right” singer said they didn’t practice the smooch.
“But she said that that's what she wanted to do,” Lopez revealed. “Like it was a thing. She was like, ‘And then we're going to get married. I'm going to be a groom. You guys, you're going to sing.’”
Instead, the Monster-In-Law actress was replaced by Aguilera for the performance, which has since gone down as one of the most memorable in VMAs history.
Although she couldn’t be a part of Madonna’s performance at the time, Lopez still cites the “Like a Prayer” singer as one of her inspirations. She recently detailed how the 67-year-old has influenced her style and career.
"When I was little, I wanted to be like her," the “I’m Real” artist told the social media show Track Star June 5. "That's why I started coming to the village. I wanted to dress like her. I cut up my clothes to look like her."
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Looking at Madonna’s decades-long run as a pop star, Lopez aspires to transform in similar ways, saying, "I always said to myself, I never want to get stuck. I always wanted to keep evolving. I always wanna keep doing new things.”
While the “Let’s Get Loud” singer wasn’t part of a historic VMAs performance, she’s had plenty of iconic moments over the years. Read on to take a look at how Lopez has evolved…
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