MTV Icon

American pop singer Janet Jackson was selected as MTV's inaugural Icon, in an event held in Los Angeles, California.

[1] Celebrity presenters included Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Lopez, Aaliyah, Christina Aguilera, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, and record producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

"[3] The event began with the previous year's icon Janet Jackson delivering a testimonial about the band, and featured performances by The X-Ecutioners, Nelly, Ja Rule, DJ Clue, Sum 41, Pink, Shakira, Kid Rock, Train, and Papa Roach, concluding with a five-song set by Aerosmith themselves.

[4] It featured performances by Sum 41, Staind, Avril Lavigne, Snoop Dogg, Korn, and Limp Bizkit, as well as celebrity appearances by Rob Zombie, Lisa Marie Presley, Jim Breuer, Sean Penn, and others.

[4] MTV set up a website to promote the special, featuring testimonials by celebrities and musicians including Kelly Osbourne, Godsmack's Sully Erna, Ja Rule, and Linkin Park's Dave "Phoenix" Farrell and Chester Bennington.

Tim Weber of BBC News remarked of the performance that "from the first riff it was obvious that they have managed to haul their music firmly into the 21st century.

The MTV Icon series logo
Janet Jackson was the first artist to be named an "MTV Icon".
Aerosmith was chosen as the 2002 Icon.
Metallica's performance on MTV Icon was their first television appearance with new bassist Robert Trujillo (left).
The Cure were the fourth and final act to be named an MTV Icon.