Cardi B to Host 2021 AMA: ‘Ready to Bring My Personality’
Cardi B will make her hosting debut at the 2021 American Music Awards which is set to air live from the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, November 21.
“When I received the invite to host the AMAs, I was so excited.” Cardi B said in a statement. “I’m ready to bring my personality to the AMAs stage! Thank you to Jesse Collins, ABC and MRC for making this happen.”
“We are immensely excited to have the dynamic Cardi B bring her infectious energy to the American Music Awards as a first-time host,” said AMAs executive producer Jesse Collins. “She will excite the viewers, push the limits and deliver a show that will be remembered forever!”
Cardi, whose real name is Belcalis Almánzar, performed “I Like It” at the 2018 AMAs alongside J Balvin and Bad Bunny. The smash went on to receive a Grammy nomination for record of the year.
A five-time AMA winner, Cardi has three nominations at this year’s show – favourite female hip-hop artist and two nods for “Up” as favourite music video and favourite hip-hop song. She made history the last time she graced the fan-voted music award show’s stage as the first female rapper to win favourite hip-hop song twice, rocking with “WAP” in 2020 and “Bodak Yellow” in 2018.
Cardi joins a long line of hip-hop stars to host or co-host the AMAs. Others include M.C. Hammer (1992), Will Smith (1994), Queen Latifah (1995), LL Cool J (2001), Sean Combs (2002) and Pitbull (2013-14).
Other A-list stars head into the AMAs with a slew of nominations, including pop star Olivia Rodrigo, who leads with seven nominations, notably for artist of the year. The rising singer is up against other fan favourites such as Taylor Swift and the Weeknd. This is the fifth consecutive year that a Black female star will front the AMAs. Cardi B follows actress Tracee Ellis Ross (2017-18), R&B star Ciara (2019) and actress Taraji P. Henson (2020).
The 2021 American Music Awards is produced by MRC Live & Alternative and Jesse Collins Entertainment. The show will be aired live at 8:00 p.m. EST/PST on ABC and will stream the next day on Hulu.
—Silviya.Y
