Shawn Mendes, Anitta & More Set to Perform at 2024 MTV VMAs
Written by djfrosty on August 27, 2024
Shawn Mendes, Anitta, Karol G and LL Cool J are joining the roster of stars slated to perform at the 2024 MTV VMAs live on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 8 p.m. ET/PT from New York’s UBS Arena.
Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Camila Cabello, GloRilla and Rauw Alejandro were the first artists slated to perform at the awards; they were announced on Aug. 12. Benson Boone, Halsey, Lenny Kravitz and LISA were added to the lineup on Aug. 21. Megan Thee Stallion is set to host the show. Katy Perry will receive the Video Vanguard Award and also perform on the show.
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Latin music will be heavily represented on the show, with three performers from the genre (Anitta, Karol G and Alejandro) and a fourth (Cabello) with Latin roots.
Cabello and Mendes performed “Señorita” on the VMAs in 2019 when they were pop’s most photogenic couple, dating until 2021 and briefly reuniting in 2023. This year, they are set to perform separately.
Ahead of the release of his fifth studio album, Shawn, on Oct. 18, Mendes will make a return to the MTV stage for the first televised performance from the album. Mendes has a streak to protect: His first four studio albums all reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
Mendes performed on the VMAs three years running: “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back” (2017), “In My Blood” (2018) and “If I Can’t Have You” and “Señorita” (2019). Most recently, he performed “Summer of Love,” his collab with Tainy, in 2021. Mendes is a two-time VMA winner.
Anitta is set to bring her signature Brazilian funk to the MTV stage for a third consecutive year with a medley of “Savage Funk” and “Alegria” plus the world premiere of “Paradise” with guest appearances by Fat Joe, DJ Khaled and Tiago PZK. Last year, she graced the stage twice: first with a medley of her Funk Generation hits “Used to Be,” “Funk Rave” and “Grip,” followed by a genre-bending K-pop/Latin crossover performance with TOMORROW X TOGETHER on “Back for More.” In 2022, she performed a medley that included “Envolver,” “Bola Rebola” and “Vai Malandra.” The first Brazilian artist to win at the VMAs in 2022 – best Latin for “Envolver” – Anitta is vying for her third consecutive best Latin win this year.
Karol G is also set to make a return to the MTV stage. Last year, the Colombian star won her first Moon Person – best collaboration alongside Shakira – and made her VMAs debut with a sultry rendition of “Oki Doki” / “Tá Ok.” This year, she’s poised to take home her second Moon Person and her first win in the best Latin category. Karol G’s Mañana Será Bonito World Tour became the highest-grossing Latin tour by a woman in Billboard Boxscore history. Her album Mañana Será Bonito made her the first woman, and only the second artist ever, to top the Billboard 200 with an all-Spanish-language album. Her many awards include a Grammy, five Latin Grammys and the title of 2024 Billboard Woman of the Year.
LL Cool J will return to the MTV stage to perform new music from his upcoming album The FORCE, due Sept. 6. Last year, LL was part of the show-closing all-star 50th-anniversary salute to hip-hop – during which he performed his hits “I’m Bad” and “Mama Said Knock You Out.” It was his first VMAs performance in more than 25 years. LL, the 1997 Video Vanguard recipient, performed “Mama Said Knock You Out” on the 1991 show. He also took home his first Moon Person – best rap – for that same hit.
This year will mark the first time the show has been held on 9/11 since the terrorist attack in 2001 made that date infamous. In observance of the 23rd anniversary of 9/11, MTV will again support the nonprofit 9/11 Day, which organizes the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, and Tuesday’s Children, which serves the families of 9/11.
The 2024 show will be held just three days shy of the 40th anniversary of the inaugural VMAs at Radio City Music Hall, where Madonna stole the show.
Taylor Swift leads the nominations for the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, with 10 nods. Her “Fortnight” collaborator Post Malone is second, with nine nods – eight in tandem with Swift plus one for his hit “I Had Some Help,” featuring Morgan Wallen. They are followed by Ariana Grande, Eminem and Carpenter (six nods each); Megan Thee Stallion and SZA (five each), and LISA, Olivia Rodrigo and Teddy Swims (four each).
Other artists with multiple nominations are Anitta, Benson Boone, Bleachers, GloRilla, Dua Lipa and Tyla, with three each; and Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish, Roan, Charli XCX, Coldplay, Drake, Jelly Roll, Jessie Murph, Jung Kook, Latto, Alejandro, Sexyy Red, Tate McRae, Usher and Victoria Monét, with two each.
Fans can vote for their favorites across 15 gender-neutral categories by visiting vote.mtv.com through Friday, Aug. 30. Voting for best new artist will remain active into the show on Wednesday, Sept. 11. Nominations in social categories will be announced at a later date.
Bruce Gillmer and Den of Thieves co-founder Jesse Ignjatovic are executive producers for the 2024 VMAs. 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.