NEW YORK — Bahamian-American rock superstar Lenny Kravitz will be among the presenters at the 36th annual MTV Video Music Awards tonight, Monday, August 26, at the Prudential Center in Newark, marking the first time that the ceremony is being held in New Jersey.
Currently on the North America leg of his 2019 “Raise Vibration Tour,” Kravitz revealed that he will be a presenter on the show in a post on his Facebook page featuring a photo of him and his mother, the late Bahamian-American actress Roxie Roker, at the MTV Video Music Awards show in 1993.
The photo was accompanied by the following caption: “Video Music Awards with my mom back in ‘93. Presenting tonight, see you there.”
Some of the most popular stars in music will gather at the Prudential Center in for the night of music that will “be filled with epic moments, unforgettable performances and, of course, awards,” according to Yahoo Entertainment.
Taylor Swift will open the show. Other announced performers include Bad Bunny, Camila Cabello, J Balvin, Lil Nas X, Lizzo, Rosalía, Shawn Mendes, Big Sean featuring A$AP Ferg, H.E.R., Normani, Jonas Brothers and Ozuna. MTV revealed Fetty Wap, Naughty By Nature, Queen Latifah, Redman and Wyclef Jean will close the show.
Ariana Grande and Swift are tied for the most nominations of the night with 10 nods each. The singers are trailed by Lil Nas X, Cardi B, Jonas Brothers, and Billie Eilish, who have all earned eight nominations.
One of the biggest awards of the evening will go to Missy Elliott. The artist will be honored with this year’s Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. Along with accepting the award, Elliott is expected to hit the stage and perform some of her greatest hits.
However, the musician won’t be the only person recognized for their accomplishments. Marc Jacobs will be receiving MTV’s inaugural Fashion Trailblazer Award.
“Jacobs and music are inextricably linked, from tapping Cher and Missy Elliott for his ad campaigns, to dressing fashion icons Lady Gaga, Cardi B and Nicki Minaj,” a statement from MTV read. “With a legacy that spans over three decades, Jacobs is a preeminent figure in fashion and music, perfectly embodying the spirit of the Fashion Trailblazer Award.”
Given the fact that earlier this year Lenny Kravitz became the pitchman for The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism’s highly successful “Fly Away to Bahamas” promotional campaign, there is a possibility that The Bahamas will continue to receive residual spin-off publicity from his appearance as a presenter on the show.
When the announcement was made earlier this year, TRAVEL WEEKLY magazine noted in an article on February 8: “The Bahamas inspired singer-songwriter Lenny Kravitz to write the hit ‘Fly Away.’ And the Bahamas ministry of tourism hopes the song will inspire travelers to put the Bahamas at the top of their must-visit list. ‘Bahamas — Fly Away’ is the islands’ new slogan, and the tourism ministry has launched a campaign around the theme, including video promotions featuring Kravitz.”
The TRAVEL WEEKLY article added: “The musician, whose mother is of Bahamian descent and who grew up visiting the islands frequently as a child, wrote the song while on the islands, where he also often records. To further promote the Bahamas, he recorded a new version of the song to a junkanoo beat, a style unique to the islands.”
Having completed the South American and European segments of his 2019 “Raise Vibration Tour” over several months this summer, Kravitz began his North American tour on Wednesday, August 21, at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia. He performed in Philadelphia on Thursday, August 22; Boston on Saturday, August 24; and at the Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut, on Sunday, August 25.
He is scheduled to perform at Radio City Music Hall in New York on Tuesday, August 27; Bell Centre, Montreal, Canada, on Friday, August 30; Amphitheatre Cogeco, Trois-Rivieres, QC, Saturday, August 31; Budweiser Stage, Toronto, Canada, Wednesday, September 4;Fox Theatre Detroit, Detroit, Michigan, Thursday, September 5. Future concerts are scheduled in Phoenix, San Diego, Los Angeles, Nashville, St. Louis, and Minneapolis.
