MTV VMAs: Roddy Ricch, J Balvin Dropped From Performance Lineup For 2020 Ceremony Amid COVID-19 Complications

Roddy Ricch and J Balvin will no longer will perform at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards. The two singers, who were announced to perform earlier this month, have dropped from the performance lineup citing COVID-19 concerns.

On an Instagram story, the “Rockstar” singer announced that he could not make the end-of-month performance. During the Premios Juventud virtual awards show, J Balvin said he contracted COVID-19 and is recovering from the virus.

UPDATED, Aug. 14: Miley Cyrus has joined the performer lineup for the 2020 MTV VMAs, where she’ll play her just-released single “Midnight Sky” for the first time anywhere. Cyrus, who won the 2014 VIdeo of the Year Award for “Wrecking Ball,” will mark her fifth VMAs performance and her second in a row. Check out the announcement video here:

UPDATED, Aug. 13: Lady Gaga will return to perform at the MTV VMAs for the first time in seven years, after being set Thursday to join the lineup of the 2020 show that will air August 30. She joins a VMA performance lineup that so far includes The Weeknd, BTS, J Balvin, Doja Cat, Roddy Ricch, CNCO and Maluma.

Gaga and Ariana Grande top this year’s nominations list with nine apiece including for the marquee video of the year prize for their duet “Rain on Me.” This year’s show, boasts new COVID-19-era categories best new music video from home and best quarantine performance.

Gaga, the multi Grammy-winning singer and Oscar-nominated actor, released her sixth studio album Chromatica in May, and teased the performance Thursday on Instagram. “I’ve been at home dreaming of #Chromatica, and it’s finally time to take off for the first live performance,” she wrote.

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Keke Palmer is serving as host of the ceremony, which will feature acts performing at various fan-less outdoor venues throughout New York City.

UPDATED, Aug.11: The Weeknd, Roddy Ricch, CNCO and Maluma have been added as performers for the 2020 MTV VMAs, which will air August 30 on MTV.

It will mark hitmaker The Weeknd’s second VMAs gig and his first in five years. Ricch, a BET Award winner for Best New Artist, and Latin Grammy-winning singer Maluma are making their debuts on the trophy show. Latin boy band CNCO will return to the VMA stage after their 2019 debut.

PREVIOUSLY, Aug. 4: BTS will hit the VMA stage for the first time ever later this month.

MTV announced today that the Kpop-sensation’s Video Music Awards debut will also feature a performance of their new English-only single “Dynamite.” BTS, which is up for three categories including best pop, is among the handful of performers for the 2020 MTV VMAs.

Joining BTS is J Balvin and “Say So” singer Doja Cat. The two singers are nominees for the annual awards show, with J Balvin taking in four nods and Doja Cat three.

More performers for the annual awards show will be announced as the ceremony approaches.

Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande top the nominations list bringing in nine nominations each, including nods for the top video of the year prize. While the annual awards ceremony will honor musicians for its traditional categories, this year’s show boasts new COVID-19-era categories best new music video from home and best quarantine performance.

The 2020 MTV VMAs, which will air August 30 on MTV, are exec produced by Bruce Gillmer and Jesse Ignjatovic. Barb Bialkowski serves as co-exec producer.