The year was 2001. MTV decided to honor Janet Jackson with the MTV Icon Award. Janet was the first honoree ever. After Janet, they gave the award to Aerosmith, Metallica, and The Cure. I wonder if they started doing the Video Vanguard Award as part of the VMA's instead of the MTV Icon special. Anyway, Janet was the first. Get our free mobile app It was a big event full of performances honoring Janet. Everybody who was anybody at the time was there. Pink, Usher, Outkast, Destiny's Child, Macy Gray, Mýa, Buckcherry, Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Lopez, Aaliyah, and Christina Aguilera, just to name a few.