Katy Perry to Open American Music Awards
Katy Perry will open this year’s American Music Awards, joining an already stacked line-up that will also now include performances from Jennifer Lopez and TLC, Billboard reports. The pop star has been on a tear since she announced and released her chart-topping new record Prism, also performing at MTV’s Video Music Awards as well as on Saturday Night Live.
Lopez will perform a tribute to Cuban-American salsa performer Celia Cruz, who passed away in 2003, ostensibly a part of the AMA’s celebration of Latin music this year: Not only will Pitbull host the show (he’ll also perform “Timber” with Ke$ha), but this year will also mark the 25th anniversary of Gloria Estefan’s groundbreaking performance at the 1988 ceremony, and the 15th anniversary of the Favorite Aritst — Latin Category.
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TLC‘s performance, however, is shrouded in mystery, with a special guest set to be announced in the coming weeks. The beloved Nineties R&B trio reunited recently, despite the absence of Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, who died in 2002; VH1 just aired a biopic about the group, but surviving members Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas have hooked back up with their mentor L.A. Reid at Epic Records, released a new single, “Meant to Be,” which featured with Ne-Yo, and have a new album on the way that will feature a collaboration with Drake (the group recently took the stage at the Toronto rapper’s OVO Fest).
In other AMA performer news, Justin Timberlake was just added to the bill as well, marking the first time he’ll perform at the show as a solo artist. Other recent additions include Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis and Luke Bryan, who will join previously announced performers Miley Cyrus, Imagine Dragons, One Direction and Florida Georgia Line.
You can check out this year’s top AMA nominees here – the pack was led by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, who nabbed six, though both Timberlake and Taylor Swift were close behind with five each – and vote for the winner’s over at the awards show’s website.