Doja Cat Holds a Lesson for Her Demons in 2023 MTV VMAs Performance

Doja Cat took the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards stage on Tuesday (Sept. 12) ready to “Paint the Town Red” — and that she did.

The star took the stage at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., in a teacher-inspired outfit surrounded by red-toned, devilish dancers as she performed a medley of tracks including her Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers “Red” and “Attention,” as well as new single “Demons.” The songs are set to be featured on her fourth studio album, Scarlet, which will arrive on Sept. 22.

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“Paint the Town Red” rose from No. 3 to No. 1 in its fifth week on the Hot 100 this week. It becomes the rapper-singer’s second career leader, following “Say So” featuring Nicki Minaj in 2020. The achievement marks the first rap Hot 100 No. 1 in over a year, ending the longest break for the genre atop the chart since 2001.

Doja Cat is nominated for six awards at this year’s show, including song of the summer for “Paint the Town Red”; best direction, best art direction and video of the year for “Attention”; artist of the year and best collaboration for “I Like You (A Happier Song)” with Post Malone.

Among this year’s other performers are Anitta, Cardi B, Demi Lovato, Diddy, Doja Cat, Fall Out Boy, Karol G, Kelsea Ballerini, Maneskin, Megan Thee Stallion, Metro Boomin (featuring Future, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Swae Lee and NAV), Nicki Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo, Peso Pluma, Shakira, Stray Kids and TOMORROW X TOGETHER.

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