Taylor Swift to Perform Live During ‘VMAs’

By Jon Lafayette
( Broadcasting & Cable )
published

Superstar Taylor Swift will be performing live during this year's Video Music Awards show, MTV announced Wednesday.

The VMAs will be televised live on Aug. 26 from the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

Swift has a long history with the VMAs, having won seven since 2008. Her most famous moment came in 2009 when Kanye West interrupted her while she was giving a speech accepting the award for best female video. West insisted the Beyonce should have won the award for Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It.).

Swift hasn’t appeared at the VMAs since she sang Bad Blood in 2015.

Related: Comedian Maniscalco Picked to Host 'VMAs'

The singer is nominated for 10 VMAs, tying her with Ariana Grande for the most nominations. Among the awards she’s up for are video of the year, song of the year and video for good. She also received 10 nominations back in 2015.

The appearance will be the first major televised appearance for Swift following the release of her latest album, Lover.

Last year’s VMAs were simulcast on MTV and 10 other Viacom networks and drew 5.2 million viewers, down 8%, for a new low for the awards show.

Jon Lafayette
Jon Lafayette

Jon has been business editor of Broadcasting+Cable since 2010. He focuses on revenue-generating activities, including advertising and distribution, as well as executive intrigue and merger and acquisition activity. Just about any story is fair game, if a dollar sign can make its way into the article. Before B+C, Jon covered the industry for TVWeek, Cable World, Electronic Media, Advertising Age and The New York Post. A native New Yorker, Jon is hiding in plain sight in the suburbs of Chicago.