Eminem to open the VMAs for the first time in 14 years
Rapper Eminem will open the MTV Video Music Awards show this week, it has been announced, for the first televised performance of songs from his new album, The Death of Slim Shady.
The Grammy-winning artist last opened the ceremony in 2010 when he performed “Not Afraid”, as well as a duet of “Love the Way You Lie” with pop star Rihanna.
His most recent performance at the awards show was in 2022, when an NFT company presented his and Snoop Dogg’s avatars in a metaverse attended by the MTV audience.
Eminem is up for eight awards this year, including Video of the Year, Song of the Summer, Best Hip-Hop, and VMAs Most Iconic Performance for his 2000 medley of “Real Slim Shady” and “The Way I Am”, for which he brought out a procession of more than 100 lookalikes dressed as him.
Just one win would secure his status as the most decorated male artist in VMAs history, as he is currently tied with Phil Collins. With a total of 67 nominations over the course of his career, he is also just behind Madonna as the most-nominated artist of all time.
This year’s awards show is being presented by rapper Megan Thee Stallion, who will also perform on the night.
Taking place on 11 September at 8pm ET from the UBS Arena on Long Island, New York, the ceremony will host a number of performances including from Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Lenny Kravitz, Katy Perry, Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello and LL Cool J.
Perry is being honoured with the Video Vanguard Award, whose previous recipients include Shakira, Nicki Minaj, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna and Missy Elliott.
Perry has won a total of five VMAs across her career including three in a single year, when she won Video of the Year (”Firework”), Best Collaboration and Best Special Effects (both for “ET” ft Kanye West), in 2011.
Pop titan Taylor Swift leads the nominations with 10: eight for her “Fortnight” music video and a further two in the Artist of the Year and Best Pop categories. Her “Fortnight” collaborator Post Malone is the second most-nominated artist of the year, with nine.
The 2024 VMAs were originally scheduled to take place on 10 September, but were rescheduled to avoid conflicts with the presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.
