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Recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Foo Fighters accepted another career honor at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards this Sunday (Sept. 12), receiving the show’s first-ever global icon award and performing a three-song medley at the show.
The longtime rock torchbearers’ performance were introduced by Billie Eilish, who saluted the group as one who “an entire generation of music fans grew up with.” They began their medley with 1999 hit “Learn to Fly,” with drummer Taylor Hawkins paying tribute to late Rolling Stones timekeeper Charlie Watts with a “Charlie R.I.P.” message on his bass drum.
After pivoting to recent Billboard Rock & Alternative Airplay No. 1 “Shame Shame,” the band capped their performance with a blistering run through signature 1997 single “Everlong.” While they performed the climactic hit, a split-screen montage simultaneously playing clips from dozens of Foo Fighters videos from the course of their career was displayed both behind them and underneath them, projected onto the actual stage.
Following the performance, Grohl gave Eilish a big hug and accepted the award on the band’s behalf, saying, “We’ve been a band for 26 years, so it feels pretty good.” He went on to thank a number of figures from MTV’s history, pulled half-facetiously from a “list” he said the group had prepared but were clearly just improvising — including past VJs like Kurt Loder, Tabitha Soren and J.J. Jackson, and former vp of music and talent Amy Finnerty, often credited with helping give Grohl’s old band Nirvana their break on the channel.
“We’ll see you in 26 years,” Grohl concluded his speech.
Alicia Keys and Swae Lee hit the stage at the 2021 MTV VMAs on Sunday (Sept. 12) to deliver their collaborative new single, “LALA (Unlocked).”
The duo’s rendition at the VMAs in New York marks their first-ever live performance of “LALA (Unlocked)” since the single was released via RCA Records on Thursday, Sept. 9.
Moments after Keys’ performance, the songstress shared a post on Instagram alongside her collaborator Lee. She captioned her post, “That golden #LALA 
.”
“LALA (Unlocked)” marks the first official musical collaboration between the two artists. Less than two weeks before its debut, Keys announced the forthcoming release of her young adult graphic novel, titled Girl on Fire, expected out March 1 via HarperCollins Publishers. The book, named after the 15-time Grammy-winner’s Billboard Hot 100-charting track, tells the fictional story of 14-year-old Lolo Wright and her telekinetic superpowers.
“When I wrote ‘Girl on Fire,’ I knew I was writing it for that girl in the way back row who needed someone to tell her there’s nothing you can’t do, that nothing is impossible,” Keys said in a statement. “When Andrew [Weiner] and I came up with the idea of translating the song into a young adult graphic novel, I knew that I wanted it to be about a girl coming to realize the strength she’s always had. There’s a little Lolo in all of us — we all have the power inside to do what we never even thought we could — and I’m so proud and crazy excited to be able to share her story with you. You’re going to fall in love with Lolo.”
Keys has also written the books Tears for Water: Poetry & Lyrics and the memoir More Myself: A Journey.
When it came time for Normani to deliver her performance at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards, she decided to pull out all of the stops with a show-stopping rendition of “Wild Side.”
Opening up the song with a series of flashing reflections of herself and her backup dancers, Normani slipped into a white void, clad in a shining chrome top with silver lamé pants, showing off her otherworldly vocals and flawless dance moves.
As she reached the climax of the track, Normani decided to add in even more intrigue to her number and pay tribute to Janet Jackson’s iconic “Would You Mind” performance from her All For You tour. Teyana Taylor was wheeled out onto the stage strapped onto a metal board as Normani, seizing the moment, climbed up to meet her, and gave her mid-air lap dance before ending the number, hanging by her feet off of Taylor.
“Wild Side” wasn’t just Normani’s song of choice for her performance — the singer’s duet with Cardi B was nominated at the VMAs for song of the summer, alongside fellow performers like Justin Bieber, The Kid LAROI, Lil Nas X, Olivia Rodrigo and many others.
BTS took home the award for best K-pop at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday (Sept. 12).
After singing a snippet of “Butter,” the South Korean septet delivered their acceptance speech via video since BTS was unable to accept the award in person at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
“Thanks for this award. Sorry we couldn’t be there, but hopefully next time we will,” they said before showing love to their devoted fan base, the ARMY. “We’ve been so blessed and grateful for all of the love we received this year. Shoutout to ARMY! You’re the best people in the world. We’ll keep bringing great music for all of you guys. Love you all!”
“Butter” not only launched at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it returned last week (chart dated Sept. 11) and has spent 10 weeks (and counting) at the peak, but it also took the title of this year’s Song of the Summer.
Earlier that night at the pre-show party, the K-pop boy band won the award for group of the year after a whopping 25 million votes were cast.
Hosted by Doja Cat, the 2021 VMAs boasts performances from Justin Bieber + the Kid LAROI, Lil Nas X + Jack Harlow, Alicia Keys + Swae Lee, Shawn Mendes + Tainy, Machine Gun Kelly + Travis Barker and more.
Ozuna brought his singular flair to the 2021 MTV VMAs stage on Sunday night (Sept. 12), following choreo-heavy performances from artists like Normani, Chlöe and Doja Cat by… dancing with a group of giant teddy bears, in a charming (and charmingly family-friendly) showcase of new single “La Funka.”
The setup for Ozuna’s performance was a giant crane game, with Ozuna joined by a quartet of stuffed bears who were dancing away from the certain doom of being selected by the arcade attractions. As the Puerto Rican superstar galloped around the stage, his four bears morphed into an army of teddys, and the performance ended with a giant bear head replacing the enormous Moon Person within Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
After releasing Los Dioses, his collaborative project with Anuel AA, in January, Ozuna has stayed reliably prolific with singles like “La Funka.” The reggaetonero has been nominated for three VMAs over the course of his career.
Click here to read an updating list of Sunday night’s winners.
When the Country Music Association announced the 55th annual CMA Awards nominations on Wednesday (Sept. 8), Miranda Lambert received three nods, bringing her career total to 58. That puts her in tie with Brad Paisley for third place on the list of all-time CMA Awards nominees. Who else is in the top 10? And who’s just outside of the top 10? Let’s take a look.
1. George Strait, 83 nods
First nod: 1983
Most recent nod: 2014
Number of awards: 17
Did you know?: Hard to imagine, but Strait didn’t win the horizon award, the former name for new artist of the year. He was nominated in 1983, but lost to John Anderson. In addition to being the overall nominations leader, Strait is also the leader in several individual categories, including male vocalist of the year (25 nods), entertainer of the year (19), album of the year (19) and single of the year (nine).
2. Alan Jackson, 81
First nod: 1990
Most recent nod: 2012
Number of awards: 16
Did you know?: Jackson didn’t win the horizon award either. He was nominated in 1990, but lost to Garth Brooks. (Pretty stiff competition.)
3. Miranda Lambert, 58 (not counting two with Pistol Annies)
First nod: 2005
Most recent nod: 2021
Number of awards: 14
Did you know?: Lambert didn’t win the horizon award either. She was nominated in both 2005 and 2006, but lost to Dierks Bentley and Carrie Underwood, respectively. Lambert has won female vocalist of the year seven times, more than anyone else. But she has yet to win entertainer of the year. She has amassed more overall nominations than anyone else who has yet to take home the big one. Maybe this will be her year.
3. Brad Paisley, 58
First nod: 2000
Most recent nod: 2012
Number of awards: 14
Did you know?: Paisley co-hosted the CMA telecast with Underwood 11 years in a row. He has amassed more nominations than anyone else who ever hosted or co-hosted the show.
5. Vince Gill, 54
First nod: 1990
Most recent nod: 2018
Number of awards: 18
Did you know?: Gill, who took a while to find his footing, was never even nominated for the horizon award. Gill hosted or co-hosted the CMA telecast 12 times, which puts him in a tie with Underwood as the most frequent host. Gill is tied with Strait and Blake Shelton for the most wins for male vocalist of the year – five.
6. Brooks & Dunn, 53 (not counting two individual nods for Brooks; four for Dunn)
First nod: 1992
Most recent nod: 2021
Number of awards: 18 (not counting an individual award for Dunn)
Did you know?: Brooks & Dunn didn’t win the horizon award either. They were nominated in 1992, but lost to Suzy Bogguss. They have more CMA nods than any other group or duo. They have been nominated for vocal duo of the year 22 times, more than anyone else.
7. Reba McEntire, 51
First nod: 1983
Most recent nod: 2020
Number of awards: 6
Did you know?: McEntire didn’t win the horizon award either. She was nominated alongside Strait in 1983, but both lost to Anderson. McEntire has amassed more nominations for female vocalist of the year (18) than anyone else. Yet she has won just six CMA awards, fewer than anyone else in this top 10 list. #shouldawonmore
8. Keith Urban, 50
First nod: 2001
Most recent nod: 2020
Number of awards: 12
Did you know?: Urban, who was born in New Zealand and reared in Australia, has amassed more nominations and awards than anyone else from outside the U.S. This year marked the first time since 2003 that he didn’t receive a single CMA nomination.
9. Kenny Chesney, 48
First nod: 1999
Most recent nod: 2021
Number of awards: 9
Did you know?: At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Chesney didn’t win the horizon award either. He was nominated in 1999, but lost to Jo Dee Messina. Chesney and Alabama are the only acts in CMA history to win entertainer of the year three years in a row. (Chesney has won in that category four times, second only to Brooks’ seven awards.) Chesney has yet to win for male vocalist of the year, despite nine nods in the category.
10. Willie Nelson, 47
First nod: 1976
Most recent nod: 2017
Number of awards: 10
Did you know?: Nelson, widely regarded as one of our greatest singers in any genre, has yet to win male vocalist of the year, despite seven nods in the category.
Next in line: Merle Haggard (46 nods), Dolly Parton (44), Alabama (41), Tony Brown (39), Dann Huff (39), Loretta Lynn (39), Tim McGraw (39), George Jones (38), Carrie Underwood (36), Garth Brooks (35), Eric Church (35)
Notes: Brown and Huff are tied as the most-nominated people in CMA history who aren’t primarily known as artists. Alabama is the most-nominated group of three or more people.
“Lalisa” has made its debut on TV.
Wearing a sparkly top and surrounded by dancers in masks, BLACKPINK member Lisa performed the fresh title track from her just-released, debut solo project for a segment on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, marking the song’s first televised performance.
Lisa released her two-song project, also titled Lalisa (her full name) on Friday (Sept. 10). The project features the song “Lalisa” as well as a track titled “Money,” and instrumental versions of both.
“It’s a good opportunity for me to finally let the world know, ‘This is who I am,’” she told Billboard ahead of the release.
Lisa is the third member of BLACKPINK to deliver solo material. Jennie was the first, dropping her single “Solo” in 2018. Rosé followed in March 2021, releasing -R-, which featured the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. No. 1 hit “On the Ground” and “Gone.” Jisoo will be the final member of the quartet to make a solo debut.
Watch Lisa perform “Lalisa” on The Tonight Show below.
