The VMAs are getting Super Freaky again. Reassuming her role as head-Barb-in-charge at MTV’s Video Music Awards, Nicki Minaj is set to serve as the host of this year’s fab fête live from New Jersey’s Prudential Center on Tuesday, September 12.
“For the second consecutive year, Minaj will announce the show’s star-studded lineup of performers, presenters and winners,” raved MTV of the 40-year-old Queens native in a press release. The “Barbie World” lyricist will, too, beguile VMAs viewers with a world premiere performance of her newest single, “Last Time I Saw You,” during the swank shindig.
The hosting gig will be one of Minaj’s most public appearances in the recent past after months of being out of the limelight. In June, the “Anaconda” mastermind was hit with a copyright infringement lawsuit by an artist claiming she “directly copied” his beat for her 2014 track “I Lied.” In 2021, singer Tracy Chapman also won $450,000 in a previous copyright suit against Minaj.
But the “Queen” rhymer isn’t letting legal woes knock off her crown.
Minaj — who’s racked up six nominations this year, including the ”Best Hip-Hop” category, as well as the sought-after “Video of the Year” and “Artist of the Year” — previously slayed as host alongside rappers LL Cool J, 55, and Jack Harlow, 25, at the 2022 VMAs.
But this time, the “Starships” superstar is flying solo.
She’ll singlehandedly helm the hoopla as top-contender of the night Taylor Swift, 34, stands to take home a whopping eight moon people trophies across a multitude of categories such as “Video of the Year,” “Artist of the Year” and “Song of the Year.”
Mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, 53, will also share the big night’s spotlight as the 2023 recipient of the Global Icon Award for his indelible impact on music, fashion, politics and education.
And “Hips Don’t Lie” harmonizer Shakira, 46, will be honored with the enviable Video Vanguard Award — an accolade bestowed upon Minaj during the 2022 VMAs.
Performers slated to wow at this year’s awards include Anitta, Demi Lovato, Doja Cat, Karol G, Kelsea Ballerini, Lil Wayne, Måneskin, Olivia Rodrigo, Shakira, Stray Kids and TOMORROW X TOGETHER.
“Soooo excited to perform at the VMAs,” tweeted Rodrigo, 20, Thursday.
“HE’S BACK!!!,” read a tweet via Lil Wayne’s official X account of the 40-year-old emcee and close friend of Minaj. “[Lil Wayne] is hitting the #VMAs stage for the first-ever performance of his new song ‘Kat Food!.’”