Shawn Mendes, Karol G, LL Cool J, and Anitta to Perform at the 2024 VMAs
The VMAs are becoming even more legendary. On Aug. 27, MTV announced that Shawn Mendes, Karol G, LL Cool J, and Anitta will perform at the Video Music Awards on Sept. 11 in New York.
Two-time VMAs winner Shawn Mendes will take the stage to perform songs off of his upcoming self-titled album, set to release Oct. 18. Shawn Mendes has previously performed crowd pleasers “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back” (2017), “If I Can’t Have You” (2019), “Se?orita” (2019), and “Summer of Love” (2021) in front of the VMAs crowd.
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Karol G, who graced Rolling Stone’s September 2023 cover, is nominated in the Best Latin category for her track “Mi ex tenía razón” off of Ma?ana Será Bonito (Bichota Season). This won’t mark her first performance at the VMAS: The Colombian superstar performed “Oki Doki” and “Tá Ok” in 2023.
The 1997 Video Vanguard recipient LL Cool J will perform select songs from his forthcoming album, The Force. The “human beatbox” was among the artists, alongside Nicki Minaj, Doug E. Fresh, and Lil Wayne, to perform during the 50th anniversary of hip-hop tribute last year.
Anitta, who is returning to the MTV stage for her third year, will perform “Savage Funk,” off her latest album Funk Generation, and “Alegria” a single with Tiago PZK and Emilia released earlier this month. As the first Brazillian to win a VMA trophy, she will also perform “Paradise” with guest appearances by Fat Joe, DJ Khaled, and Tiago PZK.
Halsey, Benson Boone, Lisa, and Lenny Kravitz were previously announced to perform. Megan Thee Stallion is set to host.
Boone has had a massive year thanks to his hit track, “Beautiful Things.” He’s up for three awards including Best New Artist and Best Alternative. Halsey — who returned with “Lucky” this summer — is up for Artist of the Year after winning Best K-Pop in 2019 for “Boy With Luv” alongside BTS. She last performed at the awards show in 2016, when she joined the Chainsmokers for a rendition of “Closer.”
Lisa will make her VMAs solo performance debut next month after releasing “New Woman” with Rosalía last week and dropping “Rockstar” earlier this summer. She became the first solo K-pop star to win a Moon Person thanks to her single “Lalisa” in 2022. (Blackpink performed “Pink Venom” onstage that year.)
Meanwhile, Kravitz will perform at the VMAs for the first time in over 25 years after taking the stage in 1993 for a performance of “Are You Gonna Go My Way” alongside John Paul Jones, and in 1998, when he joined Madonna for a rendition of “Ray of Light.” The VMAs have yet to announce what he’ll perform, but he’s up for Best Rock for his single “Human.”
The news follows an Aug. 12 announcement when the VMAs revealed that Camila Cabello, Chappell Roan, GloRilla, Sabrina Carpenter, and Rauw Alejandro will also hit the stage at the awards show at the UBS Arena in New York City. MTV also revealed that week that pop icon Katy Perry will take home the Video Vanguard trophy and perform a medley of her hits as well.
The VMAs dropped its list of nominees earlier this month, with Taylor Swift leading the charge with 10 total nominations, many of which were for Tortured Poets Department single with Post Malone, “Fortnight,” including for Video of the Year. Malone picked up nine nods, Ariana Grande has six, as does Eminem and Carpenter. The Artist of the Year category includes Swift, Grande, Eminem, Carpenter, Bad Bunny, and SZA.
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