Doja Cat is set to make her hosting debut at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards. The singer/rapper was previously announced as a performer on the show, which is set to air live from Barclays Center on Sunday, Sept. 12, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.
Doja Cat is also set to make VMAs history. The 25-year old performer is nominated for five VMAs, including video of the year for “Kiss Me More,” her smash collab with SZA. This will mark the first time in VMA history that the host is nominated for video of the year that same year. Miley Cyrus, the 2015 host, and Katy Perry, the 2017 host, had previously won in that category (for “Wrecking Ball” and “Firework,” respectively), but weren’t nominated for it in the years they hosted.
Doja Cat, whose “Say So” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, is the fifth VMA host who had previously topped Billboard’s flagship chart, following Bette Midler, who co-hosted the very first VMAs in 1984, Sean “Diddy” Combs (2005), Cyrus (2015) and Perry (2017).
(Jamie Foxx, who hosted the 2001 show, would subsequently top the Hot 100 as a featured artist on Twista’s “Slow Jamz,” which also featured Kanye West, and West’s “Gold Digger.” Eddie Murphy, who hosted the 1985 show, just missed the top spot on the Hot 100; his recording of Rick James’ “Party All the Time” reached No. 2 in December 1985 — three months after the VMA show he hosted.)
This is the third year in a row that the VMAs will have a host. Singer/actress Keke Palmer hosted last year. Comedian Sebastian Maniscalco hosted two years ago. This marks the first time the VMAs have been hosted three years running since 2008-10. Comedian Russell Brand hosted the show in 2008-09. Comedian Chelsea Handler did the honors in 2010. The VMAs, like many awards shows, has often gone hostless in recent years. (The move is usually presented as a way to save time, but often just looks like the show couldn’t get a good host.)
Doja Cat performed a mash-up of “Say So” and “Like That” on last year’s VMAs and took home her first Moon Person for PUSH best new artist.
She is nominated for five awards this year: artist of the year, video of the year and best collaboration for “Kiss Me More” and best art direction and best visual effects for “Best Friend,” the Saweetie hit on which she is featured.
The other performers on this year’s show include Shawn Mendes, Chlöe, Twenty One Pilots, Olivia Rodrigo, Lorde, Machine Gun Kelly, Lil Nas X, Foo Fighters and Camila Cabello.
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