- Rap legend Eminem initiates the MTV award ceremony.
MTV Moments Remain Memorable. As reported by "Variety" magazine, Eminem (51) will make a comeback at the MTV Video Music Awards on September 11 evening. The globe is on edge, eagerly anticipating what the rap titan has in store for his grand entrance.
Millennium Moment: "Slim Shady" at Radio City Music Hall
Awards nights are all about those remarkable moments. One such moment occurred on September 7, 2000, at the iconic Radio City Music Hall in New York. Marshall Mathers III, famously known as rapper Eminem, delivered an extraordinary performance that would go down in history. Clad in a white tank top, light blue jeans, and bleached blonde hair, he left an indelible mark. But he wasn't solo: He had approximately 100 doppelgangers by his side, making his live rendition of "The Real Slim Shady" a showstopper.
Eminem's Eight Nominations
Fast forward to September 11, New York will witness another historic moment: Eminem will take the stage. The world wonders what the seasoned rapper has up his sleeve this time. Eminem will kick off the star-studded event, potentially setting the bar high for the rest of the evening. Post-performance, the once-shy rapper from Missouri is nominated in six categories: "Video of the Year", "Best Hip-Hop", "Song of the Summer", and the "VMAs Most Iconic Performance" for his legendary medley of "Real Slim Shady" and "The Way I Am" from 2000.
Sharing the VMA Winning Streak with Peter Gabriel
This isn't Eminem's first time gracing the MTV VMAs stage. In 2010, he opened the show with Rihanna (36), his duet partner for "Love the Way You Lie." Most recently, he performed on the VMA stage in 2022 with Snoop Dogg (52). With 13 VMA victories, Eminem shares the male record for the prestigious award with Pete Gabriel (74). Beyoncé (43) is the leading lady with 25 wins.
Swift's Victory Count: A Battle of Titans
Beyoncé's record might not stand until September 11. The fierce contender vying to surpass her is none other than Taylor Swift (34). Topping this year's VMA nomination list is Swift, who boasts ten nominations, followed by Post Malone (29) with nine (mostly for his collaborative effort with Swift, "Fortnight"), and Eminem, Sabrina Carpenter (25), and Ariana Grande (31) with six nominations each.
Debate Forces a Date Change
Originally slated for September 10, the VMAs had to move their date due to a TV debate between Kamala Harris (59) and Donald Trump (78). So MTV shifted the award event to the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks: September 11.
In light of the historical significance of September 11, New York City will once again become the stage for a momentous occasion, as Eminem graces the MTV Video Music Awards for another iconic performance. The city that never sleeps has witnessed some of Eminem's most memorable performances, including his legendary rendition of "The Real Slim Shady" at Radio City Music Hall in 2000.
