Macklemore & Ryan Lewis performed at MTV’s Video Music Awards today (August 25). Their performance of “Same Love” came on a momentous evening for the duo who walked into the award show tied for most nominations with six. One of the group’s nominations came for Video of the Year (“Thrift Shop“) and another was for Best Hip Hop Video (“Can’t Hold Us“)—an award they subsequently won.

During the set Mack and Ryan were joined by The Heistguest Mary Lambert, along with RCA Records star vocalist Jennifer Hudson.

Before hitting the stage, Macklemore spoke about his performance to MTV

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“The performance is going to be…hopefully memorable,” Macklemore said during rehearsals. “Hopefully we will be in the present moment, we will capture some magic on stage that will be transmitted to the televisions of the world.”

In a recent CRWN interview, Macklemore spoke about what “Same Love” means to him.

“The fact that [“Same Love”] is played on mainstream radio in America means that it is creating a dialogue,” Macklemore said. “People are hearing the lyrics to this song about marriage equality. Whether you agree with it or you don’t agree with it, you are forced, until you turn that radio dial, to listen to it. Hopefully that leads to conversation. Hopefully that leads to dialogue. With that, I believe that change occurs. ‘Thrift Shop’ and ‘Can’t Hold Us’ were the catalysts and then ‘Same Love,’ which is, to me, in my heart, the most important song that I’ve ever written, got embraced by the masses.” 

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Additional Reporting by Jake Paine.

RELATED: Macklemore Describes ScHoolboy Q’s Reaction To “Same Love”