Olivia Rodrigo to Perform at 2023 Video Music Awards
Written by djfrosty on September 7, 2023
Olivia Rodrigo is set to perform at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, live from Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Rodrigo had a memorable night at the VMAs two years ago. She performed “Good 4 U” and won three awards, which enabled her to tie BTS and Lil Nas X for the most awards of the night. She won best new artist as well as two awards for “Drivers License” – song of the year and PUSH performance of the year.
Rodrigo has six VMA nominations this year – all for “Vampire,” which in July became her third single (following “Drivers License” and “Good 4 U”) to enter the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 1. “Vampire” is up for video of the year, song of the year, best pop, song of summer, best cinematography and best editing.
Rodrigo was precisely the kind of mainstream pop superstar booking this year’s VMAs needed. She and Doja Cat may be the Sept. 12 show’s best “gets” to date, in terms of serving the show’s target audience. The performer lineup also includes Anitta, Demi Lovato, Karol G, Kelsea Ballerini, Lil Wayne, Måneskin, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Shakira, Stray Kids and TOMORROW X TOGETHER. Though the show is almost upon us, MTV says additional performers are still to be announced.
Shakira will receive MTV’s Video Vanguard Award and perform live on the show for the first time since 2006. Diddy will accept the Global Icon Award and perform live on the show for the first time since 2005.
Rodrigo’s sophomore album, Guts, is set for release on Friday (Sept. 8), just four days before the VMAs. Her debut album, Sour, logged five weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2021.
Rodrigo, just 20, is the youngest artist in Hot 100 history to have three singles enter the chart at No. 1. She is also the first artist ever to debut atop the Hot 100 with the lead singles from two career-opening albums.
With the addition of social categories, Taylor Swift leads all nominees for the 2023 VMAs with 11 nods, followed by SZA (eight); BLACKPINK, Doja Cat, Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj and Rodrigo (six each); Kim Petras and Sam Smith (five each); and Beyoncé, Diddy, Drake, Ice Spice, Karol G, Metro Boomin, Shakira and TOMORROW X TOGETHER (four each).
General fan voting is now closed; voting remains open for social categories and best new artist.
Bruce Gillmer and Den of Thieves co-founder Jesse Ignjatovic are executive producers of the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards. Barb Bialkowski is co-executive producer. Alicia Portugal and Jackie Barba serve as executives in charge of production. Wendy Plaut is executive in charge of celebrity talent. Lisa Lauricella is music talent executive.