20 iconic performances from 20th century award shows

At the 1982 Grammy Awards, R&B titans Diana Ross and Lionel Richie teamed up for a perfectly memorable performance of their smash-hit duet "Endless Love." There are no crazy effects or stunts, just two immensely talented artists singing a great song. 

One of the greatest duets in country music, "Islands In The Stream" is an enduring hit. Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers performed perhaps the most iconic version of the song at the 1983 CMA Awards, with Dolly's hand in Kenny's as they harmonized. 

Two of country's greatest artists shared the stage at the 1984 Grammy Awards. Chuck Berry steals the show with his killer performance of "Maybellene," then brings out Stevie Ray Vaughan and George Thorogood for a guitar-heavy take on "Johnny B. Goode." It's a must-watch for anyone who loves to see the greats shred. 

In 1985, Tina Turner was at the height of her powers, a fact that's proven by her performance of her smash single "What's Love Got to Do With It" at the 1985 Grammy Awards. Turner's raw vocals, that incredible red dress, and (of course) her dancing make for one hell of a performance.  

Prince delivered many stellar performances of "Purple Rain" in his too-short life, but this performance at the 1985 American Music Awards is among the best. The production values are low and the stage is simple, leaving plenty of room for Prince to do what he did best: shine. 

In 1989, heavy metal and the Grammy Awards were two distinct musical parallels that did not cross. Metallica changed all that in 1989 when they performed "One" on the show. Whether or not the audience was prepared for their screaming and shredding, this performance is Metallica at the top of its game. 

Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora flipped the big, theatrical awards show performance on its head at the 1989 VMA Awards. The two sat on stools to perform "Livin' On A Prayer" and "Wanted Dead or Alive," and '80s hair aside, it's an incredible acoustic performance that some music industry insiders say inspired the legendary "MTV: Unplugged" series. 

Decked out in her Marie Antoinette finest, Madonna stole the show at the 1990 VMA Awards with her performance of "Vogue." With tons of dancers, elaborate costumes, and of course, Madonna's inimitable stage presence, it's one of the great awards show performances. 

Before she was Mimi and a musical icon, Mariah Carey was a young and rising superstar at the 1991 Grammy Awards. The whole world got an introduction to those incredible pipes as Carey hit soaring highs and rich lows on "Vision of Love." 

In 1992, NIrvana accepted the Best New Artist trophy, and before they performed, they were told to not perform their controversial song "Rāpe Me." But that didn't stop Kurt Cobain from playing a few bars of the song before launching into a ripping performance of "Lithium." 

In 1993, Reba McEntire's saucy red dress made huge headlines after the CMA Awards. Equally compelling was her duet performance of "Does He Love You" with Linda Davis, 

Whitney Houston appears like an angel in white as she sings "I Will Always Love You" at the 1994 Grammy Awards. Recorded for her film "The Bodyguard," in which she starred alongside Kevin Costner, this song (and this performance!) are Houston's signature. 

Tanya Tucker and Little Richard, both powerhouse performers in their own right, rocked the CMA Awards in 1994 with a high-energy performance of their song "Somethin' Else." Little Richard accompanies a smiling, dancing Tucker, who's decked out in a killer leather jacket. 

There was a lot that happened at the 1995 Source Awards—namely escalating tensions between West Coast and East Coast rappers, complete with threats and on-stage disses—but that all overshadowed a truly historic line-up of performances from The Notorious B.I.G., Snoop Dogg, Method Man, and Craig Mack. 

Michael Jackson's 1995 performance at the VMA Awards is the definition of legendary. The show spanned nearly 15 minutes, featured cameos from Slash and countless dancers, and saw Jackson performing his most beloved hits, including "Billie Jean" and "The Way You Make Me Feel." 

Joined by Faith Evans and Sting, Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs paid tribute to the late, great Notorious B.I.G. at the 1997 VMA Awards with an emotionally stirring performance of "I'll Be Missing You."

Originally, Luciano Pavarotti was supposed to sing "Nessun Dorma" at the 1998 Grammy Awards, but an illness meant that he was unavailable. Fortunately, Aretha Franklin more than capably stepped in to perform in her good friend's stead, and audiences were treated to this incredible moment in music history. 

The 1998 Grammy Awards were bonkers. In addition to that killer performance of "Nessun Dorma," viewers also watched Bob Dylan's performance of "Love Sick" be interrupted by a protester with "Soy Bomb" written on his body who's doing a decidedly unique interpretive dance. Dylan doesn't seemed bothered by the intrusion, but it remains one of the weirder moments in awards show history. 

Just before the turn of the 21st century, Britney Spears performed her debut single "Baby One More Time" on the 1999 VMA Awards alongside N*Sync, who joined to dance along in metallic silver pants. 

Country traditionalist Alan Jackson paid tribute to George Jones, one of his greatest influences, and staged a protest at the same time at the 1999 CMA Awards. Scheduled to perform his hit song "Pop A Top," Jackson played that tune before launching into Jones's "Choices," which the Country Music Association would not allow him to perform in full on the show.