Megan Thee Stallion Set as Host for MTV Video Music Awards

Megan Thee Stallion will take on hosting duties at an awards show for the first time as she takes the lead role at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, the network announced Thursday.

The artist previously hosted “Saturday Night Live” and co-hosted “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”

Megan is up for five awards herself during the VMAs, the most of any hip-hop artist, including best collaboration — a nom shared with GloRilla, with whom she’s been out on tour — and best hip-hop. Her MTV VMAs wins go back five years, when she first won best power anthem with the song “Hot Girl Summer.”

In June, she released her third album, “Megan” — her first as an independent artist, on her own Hot Girl Productions label (with distribution by Warner Music Group). Her latest single, “Mamushi,” has reached 150 million streams, following the No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 success earlier in the year of “Hiss,” a diss track aimed at Nicki Minaj. It was her first No. 1 on the chart as a solo artist.

“Mamushi” became the breakout hit from the new album, with a music video released in early August that took adantage of the dance trend that the song had already inspired. Filmed in Tokyo, Japan, the video stars Megan and actor Shô Kasamatsu, known for his roles in multiple series including “Tokyo Vice” and “Gannibal.”

Megan has been out on her first headlining tour, including a stop reviewed by Variety at Madison Square Garden, where she was joined by Cardi B as well as opener GloRilla.

The artist recently performed at a rally for presidential candidate Kamala Harris. “We about to make history with the first female president, the first Black female president,” she exclaimed at the July 30 rally in Atlanta, while performing a medley of “Girls in the Hood,” “Mamushi,” “Body” and “Savage.”  “Let’s get this done hotties. Hotties for Harris!”

The VMAs air Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. ET/PT and will air live from New York’s UBS Arena.

The lineup of performers for the show has gradually been rolling out, with Benson Boone, Halsey, Lenny Kravitz and Lisa of Blackpink announced Wednesday. Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, GloRilla, Camila Cabello and Rauw Alejandro had previously been announced to perform on the telecast, as had Katy Perry, who will receive the Video Vanguard Award.

Taylor Swift leads VMA nominees with 10, followed by Post Malone with nine (most of those for his duet with Swift, “Fortnight”). Carpenter is tied with Ariana Grande and Eminem with six nominations each. Following behind with multiple nods are Megan Thee Stallion and SZA (five each), and Lisa, Olivia Rodrigo and Teddy Swims (four each).