Snoop Dogg took center stage at Los Angelesβ Peacock Theater to host the MTV Video Music Awards, kicking off music’s premier night with a sharp opening monologue, a viral joke directed at Madonna, and a medley of his legendary West Coast anthems. The star-studded event marked the first time the awards ceremony was held in Los Angeles since 2017.
Delivering high energy to his hometown crowd, the rap veteran blended humor, nostalgia, and live musical breaks throughout the broadcast. His opening monologue set the tone immediately, balancing reverence for pop royalty with lighthearted roasts aimed directly at the night’s opening performer.
Why the Host Almost Turned Down the Ceremony
The veteran entertainer revealed to the audience that his participation was contingent on one major factor: location. When producers initially reached out with the hosting offer, the rapper hesitated until organizers confirmed the production would land on the West Coast.
“Now, when they first asked me to host this award show, I said, ‘Is it gonna be in LA? No? Well, I’m busy.’ Then, they called me back and said, ‘Hold on, Mr. Dogg. It’s in L.A now.’ So, having this show hosted by me in my city means two things. One, tonight is gonna be the biggest party the VMAs has ever seen. And two, it wouldn’t be a Snoop Dogg party if I didn’t provide some of that special, sticky, icky, icky … that’s for every winner here tonight. Just the winners, though.”
Securing the show in Southern California established a festive, homecoming atmosphere that defined the remainder of the evening’s program.
Snoop Dogg hosts the MTV Video Music Awards at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
The Monologue: Poking Fun at Madonna
Pop icon Madonna opened the broadcast with a dynamic live set before taking home multiple awards during the ceremony. Stepping up directly after her performance, Snoop praised her artistic longevity before landing a punchline referencing her signature 1984 breakthrough era.
“Madonna just killed it. Now, that is an icon. One thing I wanna say is, she ain’t a virgin no more.”
The audience reaction established an irreverent cadence for the night, with the host quickly pivoting to celebrate the diverse lineup of chart-topping peers gathered in the arena.
Spotlighting Top Nominees and International Talent
The host turned his attention to recognizing the elite roster of nominees seated inside the Peacock Theater, calling out heavyweights across pop, hip-hop, country, and global genres.
- Madonna, who launched the show and secured multiple wins
- Taylor Swift and Bruno Mars, representing pop music heavyweights
- Shaboozey, highlighting country and hip-hop crossover momentum
- Lisa, representing global pop and international audiences
- Raye, the acclaimed British singer-songwriter
Later in the telecast, the host formally introduced Raye, calling attention to her major nominations for Song of the Year for “Where Is My Husband!” as well as Best Visual Effects for “Click Clack Symphony.”
Live Hits and Decades of VMA History
Rather than sticking solely to scripted hosting duties, the rapper energized the arena by performing snippets of his classic catalog. He rolled through crowd favorites like “Gin and Juice” and “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” prompting arena-wide singalongs.
During the performance of his 1994 track “Juice,” the host cut the backing audio to lead a call-and-response routine, letting the crowd recite the chorus lyrics back to the stage. His deep history with the network’s flagship awards show spans decades of nominations and victories.
| Metric | Career Total |
|---|---|
| VMA Career Nominations | 13 |
| VMA Career Wins | 3 |
| Host City Return Gap | First LA show since 2017 |
| Host Venue | Peacock Theater, Los Angeles |
The balance of live musicianship and humor reinforced the host’s long-standing connection to the franchise while keeping the live audience engaged throughout the multi-hour broadcast.
π‘ The return to Los Angeles brought classic hip-hop heritage right back to the center of modern pop’s biggest stage.
π From iconic monologue punchlines to spontaneous crowd singalongs, live award shows rely heavily on authentic veteran hosts.
π Which performance or monologue moment from the ceremony stood out most to you? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
