MTV has added seven new performers to the lineup for this year’s Video Music Awards, rounding out a night that already promised Madonna and Snoop Dogg. The additions include Gunna, Lisa, Raye, Shaboozey, Gener8ion, Sienna Spiro, and Yung Lean. The show airs at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sept. 26 on CBS and MTV, with Paramount+ carrying the premium stream and making the broadcast available on Sept. 27.
New Names Join the Bill
Lisa will perform her new single “SaWaDiKa,” a preview of her upcoming EP Press Play, due Oct. 23. Shaboozey will play “Cowgirl” and bring in Gunna for a version of their collaboration “High Noon.” Gener8ion and Yung Lean will give a world premiere performance of their song “Storm II.”
Raye’s set has not been revealed yet, though she is nominated for “Where Is My Husband!” Sienna Spiro’s song of choice remains unannounced. The show plans to add more performers in the week ahead.
Madonna Opens the Show
Madonna will open the ceremony with her own performance. Snoop Dogg will host the event. Nirvana will receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.
Madonna leads the nominations this year with 11 nods, including Artist of the Year and Video of the Year for “Confessions II — The Film.” She spoke about the project at its Tribeca Film Fest premiere.
“I like the idea of film, because I’m a ‘film-phile,’ a cinephile, and film has inspired a good part of my life,” she said. “Somehow [the word] video seems cheap. It was good when it was just MTV and me.”
Who Else Is Nominated
Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and Sabrina Carpenter also have multiple nominations this year.
A Range of Styles
The new lineup features a wide range of artists. Lisa brings her new single to the stage. Shaboozey arrives with a direct connection to Gunna’s world.
Gener8ion and Yung Lean represent a distinct sound. Sienna Spiro’s contribution remains unknown. Raye’s nomination suggests a pop presence, even if her set is still under wraps.
What to Watch For
The show has Madonna, Snoop Dogg, and Nirvana locked in, which is a strong anchor for any broadcast. The new additions give the ceremony a range that reaches from the mainstream to the underground.
The addition of a world premiere for Gener8ion and Yung Lean’s “Storm II” gives the show a moment that cannot be heard anywhere else.
The Week Ahead
MTV has not announced a specific date for the next performer reveal. The statement promises more names in the coming days.
Our View
This lineup reads as a real mix of acts, from Lisa to underground rapper Shaboozey, each bringing a distinct song to the stage. The addition of a world premiere for Gener8ion and Yung Lean’s “Storm II” gives the show a moment that cannot be heard anywhere else.
The show has Madonna, Snoop Dogg, and Nirvana locked in, which is a strong anchor for any broadcast. The new additions give the ceremony a range that reaches from the mainstream to the underground.
This is a show with something for everyone, and the week ahead will tell us who else joins the bill.
The Order of Major Moments
The sequence of major moments is clear:
- Madonna opens the show
- Snoop Dogg hosts
- Lisa performs “SaWaDiKa”
- Shaboozey plays “Cowgirl” with Gunna
- Gener8ion and Yung Lean premiere “Storm II”
- Nirvana receives the Vanguard Award
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.