Rihanna kicked off the 2016 Video Music Awards with a medley of her biggest hits after she was named this year’s recipient of MTV’s lifetime achievement honour.

The Barbadian singer, 28, performed Please Don’t Stop The Music, Only Girl (In The World), We Found Love and Where Have You Been as she opened the star-studded show at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Rihanna will receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, following in the footsteps of past winners Kanye West, Beyonce, Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears.

Adele and Beyonce are battling it out for the top honours at the VMAs including video of the year.

The pop superstars received the most nominations, with Beyonce leading the way with 11 compared to Adele’s eight.

Fans could not contain their excitement at her performance:

Frankie Grande is among her big fans…

Eminem to make an appearance?