Britney Spears, Madonna, and Christina Aguilera perform onstage during the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on August 28, 2003 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images)

There’s no forgetting Madonna’s iconic performance at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards. You know the one. She memorably planted a kiss on Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. But turns out, she was originally going to be performing with someone else in the mix.

In a recent interview, Jennifer Lopez revealed she was set to take the stage with the “Like a Virgin” star and Spears. Speaking with E! News ahead of the debut of her rom-com flick Shotgun Wedding with Josh Duhamel, Lopez explained, I was filming a movie in Canada, and we had met — me, her [Madonna] and Britney— to do it at her home, and then I just couldn’t get off the film. So, we couldn’t do it.”

The “Jenny from the Block” songstress added, “They got Christina Aguilera, I think, to do it, and I didn’t wind up doing it.” The Marry Me actress expressed her great reverence for the icon. “I love Madonna. I’m a huge fan. I always have been.”

Britney Spears, Madonna, and Christina Aguilera perform onstage during the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on August 28, 2003 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images)

At the now-historic awards show moment, Madonna opened the 2003 MTV VMAs with Spears and Aguilera, performing renditions of her songs, “Like a Virgin” and “Hollywood.” There was a guest appearance from Missy Elliott, and the four performed Elliott’s “Work It.”

Madonna then famously smooched both Spears and Aguilera before the legendary performance wrapped. In 2003, the media highlighted Spears and Madonna’s kiss far more than Aguilera’s, quickly spanning the camera to cut to Spear’s ex, Justin Timberlake for a reaction.

Jennifer Lopez attends “Halftime” Premiere during the Tribeca Festival Opening Night on June 08, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival)

In 2018, Aguilera reflected on the moment with Sirius XM’s Radio Andy. “”And you know why they cut it? They cut away to get Justin’s reaction,” she said. “I saw the newspaper the next day and it was like, ‘Oh — well I guess I got left out of that one.'”