MTV announced Lorde, Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Nas X and more will be performing at the event
The MTV Video Music Awards have been the setting for some of pop culture's most pivotal moments: Kanye West's "Imma let you finish" speech, Miley Cyrus's shockingly sexual 2013 performance, etc. And while last year's virtual ceremony didn't bring about the show's usual antics, viewers are already anticipating what's in store for 2021. Luckily, MTV has announced that some of this year's chart-toppers like Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Nas X, Lorde, Machine Gun Kelly, Foo Fighters, and Camila Cabello will be performing at the event.
The evening will mark Lorde's triumphant return to the VMAs stage, four years after her "Homemade Dynamite" performance in 2017. Cabello, who will sing her new single "Don't Go Yet," and Nas both headlined the award show in 2019, while MGK, singing "Papercuts" live for the first time, makes the list for a second consecutive year. However, 18-year-old Rodrigo, making her MTV VMA debut, is slated to premiere the live performance of her hit song "Good 4 U."
Earlier this month, MTV showcased its reimagined "Moon Person" trophy to commemorate its 40th anniversary. The new statuette, designed by New York artist Kehinde Wiley, now features leafy vines and floral imagery as an homage to the mix of cultural and ethnic backgrounds that inspire today's musical artists.
The network explained, "The design features botanical vines seamlessly flowing up and around the figure’s legs, body, and arms as a commentary on the ethnic histories that surround America. Each intertwined vine or leaf has a different historical relevance, such as the seeds from African slaves, that are woven into the American tapestry."
Although no host has been announced yet, the show will take place at the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn, New York on Sunday, 12th September 2021.
