Entertainment Awards Shows and Events Megan Thee Stallion Kicks Off the 2024 BET Awards by Hatching Out of a Snake Egg Megan Thee Stallion is nominated for four BET Awards this year, including best female hip-hop artist By Marina Watts Marina Watts Marina Watts is a Digital News Editor at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2024. Her work has previously appeared on Bustle, The US Sun, Newsweek and OK! Magazine. People Editorial Guidelines and Charlotte Phillipp Charlotte Phillipp Charlotte Phillipp is a Weekend Writer-Reporter at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2024, and was previously an entertainment reporter at The Messenger. People Editorial Guidelines Published on June 30, 2024 08:38PM EDT Megan Thee Stallion opened the 2024 BET Awards in an iconic way. The Grammy winner opened the show with a high-production performance of "Hiss," sporting a daring shiny green and gold latex bodysuit and calf-high boots as she emerged from a cracked snake egg as fiery graphics appeared on the screen behind her — an homage to the snake imagery that has been using in a handful of her recent songs and music videos — before inviting the crowd to "turn up with the 'hot girls.'" With dozens of backup dancers in matching outfits emerging from backstage to accompany her, the rapper broke into a high-octane dance number before transitioning into "Boa" — yet another of her snake-inspired tracks from her recently released studio album, MEGAN. Continuing the high-energy dance number, she and the dancers brought out some of her iconic, sexy dance moves, before finishing the performance with "Where Them Girls At," also from MEGAN. Megan Thee Stallion performs on stage during the BET Awards at the Peacock theatre in Los Angeles, June 30, 202. MICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty Megan Thee Stallion Tells Crowd to Keep Their Pot Smoke to Themselves: 'Don't Blow That Weed by Me!' Her opening number will surely be a tough act to follow. Other performances expected throughout the award ceremony include Latto, Muni Long, Sexyy Red and Victoria Monét. Megan made a second appearance later in the night, joining GloRilla for their hit "Wanna Be." GloRilla and Megan Thee Stallion perform onstage during the BET Awards at Peacock Theater on June 30, 2024 in Los Angeles. Kevin Winter/Getty Megan, 29, has been nominated for four BET Awards this year: Video of the year best collaboration on "Bongos" with Cardi B, best female hip-hop artist and the BET Her award. At this year's ceremony Taraji P. Henson is returning for her third hosting gig at the BET Awards, previously serving as the master of ceremonies in 2021 and 2022. It's likely that Henson, 53, was one of the many fans looking forward to Megan's opening number. Days before her BET Awards opening performance, the Hidden Figures actress praised the singer after seeing her perform live. Megan Thee Stallion Channels Regina George in Iconic Bra-Baring Tank Top for New Music Video Megan Thee Stallion performs onstage during the BET Awards in Los Angeles in June 30, 2024. MICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "That was my first time seeing her perform live on her stage, headlining. She's amazing," Henson told PEOPLE in June. The Oscar-nominated actress had attended the rapper's Hot Girl Summer Tour show in Los Angeles on June 21. "She has been able to withstand all of the adversity and rise above it. She's incredible. I love you Megan, and I'm so proud of you. That's my baby girl, by the way." Megan Thee Stallion performs on stage during the BET Awards at the Peacock theatre in Los Angeles on June 30, 2024. Michael TRAN / AFP) (Photo by MICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty After the awards, Megan is headed to the UK to kick off the European leg of her tour. The 2024 BET Awards are airing live on June 30 at 8 p.m. ET/ PT live from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. Close