The first "VH1 Divas" show, at New York City's Beacon Theatre, featured international music stars Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan, Mariah Carey and Shania Twain.

In a guest appearance, singer-songwriter Carole King led the performers through versions of her songs "You've Got a Friend" and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman."

After being invited by Whitney Houston in 1999, an appearance that gave her big publicity worldwide, Mary J. Blige asked her friend to join her on Divas three years later to perform together her song "Rainy Dayz".

Chaka Khan, Beyoncé, Lisa Marie Presley, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Mary J. Blige, Jewel, Ashanti, Sharon Osbourne, Aisha Tyler, Stevie Wonder, Pat Benatar, Shania Twain, Bobby Brown and the Isley Brothers joined host Queen Latifah when "VH1 Divas Duets: A Benefit Concert for the VH1 Save the Music Foundation" aired live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Thursday, May 22 at 9:00pm (ET/PT).

Aside from the normal set of presenters, the concert also featured video testimonials from Chaka Khan, Carly Simon, Gloria Estefan, Mary J. Blige, Vanessa Williams, Alicia Keys, Pharrell Williams, Kathy Griffin (in what would prove to be the first of three consecutive appearances), Marg Helgenberger and Usher on the word "diva", their favorite divas, as well as the importance of music education in schools.

It was recorded on Friday, December 3, 2010, at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar while Paramore was filmed earlier in the week at Army Camp Arifjan in Kuwait.

It was taped on December 18, 2011, at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City,[23] and aired the next evening on VH1, paying tribute to the places that helped create or contributed to soul music: Chicago, Detroit, London, Philadelphia and Memphis.

[24] Anita Baker, who was going to sing with Jill Scott, had to drop out moments before the concert after disagreements with producers,[25] allowing Marsha Ambrosius and Ledisi to step in and perform in their places during the Detroit medley.

The show was hosted by Adam Lambert and celebrated the dance-inducing music that is the vibrant soundtrack to every major blowout bash, unforgettable party and night out on the town.

Teyana Taylor and Vanessa Williams made debut appearances on the VH1 Divas stage, while the legendary Chaka Khan returned for her fourth time.

Saturday Night Live performers Ana Gasteyer, Molly Shannon and Cheri Oteri frequently spoofed Dion, Twain and Carey, most memorably in the opening moments of Divas '99 where they portrayed the songstresses attempting to order a pizza before watching the concert.

On February 10, 2001, Jennifer Lopez starred in an SNL skit where she battled Mango onstage at VH1 Divas, with Tracy Morgan as Franklin, Maya Rudolph as Diana Ross, and Gasteyer and Shannon both reprising their impressions of Dion and Twain respectively.

Aja portrayed Amy Winehouse, BeBe Zahara Benet was Diana Ross, BenDeLaCreme was Julie Andrews, Chi Chi DeVayne was Patti LaBelle, Kennedy Davenport played as Janet Jackson, Milk acted as Celine Dion, Shangela was Mariah Carey, Thorgy Thor impersonated Stevie Nicks and Trixie Mattel played as Dolly Parton.

"[31] Performers over the years included Anastacia, Blondie, Kelly Clarkson, Destiny's Child, En Vogue, Melissa Etheridge, Cyndi Lauper, and Lee Ann Womack.

In 2022, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex had Carey as a guest on the second episode of her podcast Archetypes, mentioning in her interview how influential the original concert was on her and her high school classmates.