Cardi B Celebrates Historic VMA Win, Addresses 2026 Absence, Promises 2027 Return

Cardi B is belatedly celebrating her historic VMAs win with Kehlani , with the duo’s single “Save” becoming the first all-women collaboration to win best hip-hop at the Sunday (Sept. 27) ceremony.

Related

Cardi B Reflects on ‘Dream’ of Walking ‘Vogue’ Runway at Milan Fashion Week: ‘A Moment I Will Never Forget’

Here Are All the 2026 MTV VMAs Winners: Full List

Slayyyter, Taylor Swift, LISA & More Rock the 2026 MTV VMAs Red Carpet: See the Best Photos

One day after the award show, the rapper addressed fans in a video she filmed at home posted to her Instagram Story . “By the way, y’all, me and Bae -lani just won a VMA last night for ‘Save!'” she cheered.

“As I deserve, b—h,” Cardi continued before recalling the video shoot for “Save.” “I was seven months pregnant, slamming myself on the f–king floor, acting like I’m getting robbed and s–t. I don’t know if y’all appreciated the music video, because it’s a music video I don’t usually do with a storyline and everything.”

Released in September 2025 at the same time as Cardi’s Billboard 200 -topping sophomore album, Am I the Drama? , “Safe” reached No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 3 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The music video, which also dropped at the same time, showed the Bronx native and Kehlani performing the song in silky PJs, interspersed with a narrative arc of a pregnant Cardi — who in real life was expecting her now 10-month-old son with Stefon Diggs — struggling in her relationship with a man who seemingly gets up to criminal activity behind her back. It results in one of his foes showing up to their house and wrestling Cardi to the ground, an exchange that ends darkly.

“Next year, I’m going to the VMAs. I promise. I promise,” Cardi added in her clip, writing in a follow-up post, “Thank you @mtv …Send in the moon man.”

The hip-hop star was one of several winners at the 2026 VMAs, where Madonna took home the most Moon People — including for artist of the year — while Taylor Swift was honored with the first-ever artist director award as well as video of the year for “The Fate of Ophelia.” The night also included performances from stars such as RAYE, Sienna Spiro, LISA, Shaboozey and more.

And while she wasn’t at the ceremony, Cardi has been booked and busy elsewhere. In her recent Instagram Story, she also mentioned that she’d only recently returned home after spending time in Milan, where she walked in the Vogue World fashion show alongside Jennifer Lopez, mgk and more celebs.

_Originally reported by [Billboard](https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/cardi-b-reacts-vmas-win-kehlani-missing-ceremony-1236349806/)._