Megan Thee Stallion is poised to make her debut as a red-carpet host, stealing the spotlight at the prestigious 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, MTV announced with excitement on Thursday. This marks a significant milestone for the artist, who has previously graced the stages of "Saturday Night Live" and co-hosted "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," but now steps into the limelight as the lead emcee of the VMAs.
Megan herself is vying for an impressive five awards, topping the hip-hop category with nominations that include Best Collaboration, shared with her tour mate GloRilla, and Best Hip-Hop. Her VMA legacy dates back half a decade, when she triumphantly claimed Best Power Anthem with her anthemic hit "Hot Girl Summer."
Just this June, Megan unveiled her third studio album, "Megan," a triumphant independent venture under her own Hot Girl Productions label, distributed by Warner Music Group. Her latest single, "Mamushi," has amassed a staggering 150 million streams, following the monumental success of "Hiss," a fiery diss track aimed at Nicki Minaj that soared to the top of the Billboard Hot 100, marking her first solo No. 1.
"Mamushi" emerged as the album's standout track, accompanied by a visually stunning music video released in early August. Filmed amidst the vibrant streets of Tokyo, Japan, the video stars Megan alongside actor Shô Kasamatsu, renowned for his roles in "Tokyo Vice" and "Gannibal," capitalizing on the dance craze ignited by the song.
Megan's ongoing headline tour has been a triumph, with a memorable stop at Madison Square Garden, where she was joined by Cardi B and GloRilla, earning rave reviews from critics. Her political activism has also been on full display, as she performed at a rally for presidential candidate Kamala Harris, fueling the crowd with her powerful message: "We're about to make history with the first female president, the first Black female president!"
The VMAs, set to air live from New York's UBS Arena on September 11 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, promises a star-studded lineup of performers. Recent additions to the roster include Benson Boone, Halsey, Lenny Kravitz, and Lisa from Blackpink, following earlier announcements of Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, GloRilla, Camila Cabello, Rauw Alejandro, and Katy Perry, who will be honored with the prestigious Video Vanguard Award.
Taylor Swift leads the pack with an astonishing 10 nominations, closely followed by Post Malone with nine, many of which stem from their collaborative hit "Fortnite." Sabrina Carpenter, Ariana Grande, and Eminem are tied with six nods each, while Megan Thee Stallion and SZA trail closely with five apiece, along with Lisa, Olivia Rodrigo, and Teddy Swims, all vying for their share of the VMA glory.
