Katy Perry to Receive Video Vanguard Award at 2024 MTV VMAs: A 'True Pop Culture Icon'

The global pop star will be honored with the coveted award and perform a medley of her biggest hits live at the MTV show on Sept. 11

In Katy Perry's world, she's a video vanguard winner!

On Thursday, MTV announced that the "Woman's World" pop star, 39, will receive this year's coveted Video Vanguard Award at the 2024 Video Music Awards, which airs live from New York’s UBS Arena on Sept. 11.

According to a press release, not only will Perry join the ranks of icons who have won the prestigious award named after Michael Jackson, but she will also return to the MTV stage — for the first time in seven years — to perform a medley of her biggest hits to recap her milestone-filled career.

"Katy is a musical powerhouse and true pop culture icon," Bruce Gillmer, Paramount's president of music, music talent, programming and events and Paramount+'s chief content officer for music, said in a statement.

He added, "With her game changing creative vision, she has become a global phenomenon and taken over the world’s biggest stages. Katy’s prowess will be on full display LIVE on the VMAs with a can’t-miss, career-encompassing performance celebrating her biggest moments and chart-topping hits."

Katy Perry attends the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 24, 2014 in Inglewood, California.
Katy Perry attends the MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 24, 2014 in Inglewood, California.

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Perry's music video honor arrives amid a busy season for the superstar, who's gearing up to drop her sixth studio album, 143, on Sept. 20. She joins past Video Vanguard winners like Shakira, Madonna, Beyoncé, The Beatles, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Justin Timberlake, Janet Jackson and many more.

Over the course of her career, Perry has reached huge success with No. 1 hits and bold visuals — including "Roar," "Dark Horse," "Firework," "Hot N Cold," "California Gurls" and "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" — that have collectively amassed over 10 billion views on YouTube.

She won her first VMAs in 2011, with the then-breakout star taking home three Moon People for best visual effects and best collaboration ("E.T" featuring Kanye West) and video of the year ("Firework").

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The "Lifetimes" singer last appeared at the MTV VMAs in 2017, when she pulled double duty as both host and performer. This year, the five-time Moon Person winner isn't up for any categories, but she does join an already stacked lineup of performers that includes Camila Cabello, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, GloRilla and Rauw Alejandro.

Taylor Swift leads the crop of nominees this year with 10 whopping nods, followed by Post Malone, who has nine. Other big names up for Moon People include Ariana Grande, Eminem, Megan Thee Stallion, SZA, LISA, Olivia Rodrigo, Tyla, Jelly Roll, Victoria Monét, Sexyy Red, and more.

The 2024 VMAs was originally set to air on Sept. 10 but have since moved to the following day to avoid clashing with the U.S. presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. The shifted show date will recognize the 23rd anniversary of 9/11. 

The 2024 MTV Video Music Awards airs live on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

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