Lizzo electrified the crowd at the VMAs on Aug. 28. The star, who released her latest album, “Special,” on July 15, performed “About Damn Time” and “2 Be Loved (Am I Ready).” Unlike her usual performances, where she’s flanked by her entourage of dancers, Lizzo took to the stage alone, performing in front of dancing projections of herself. The effect was similar to one Beyoncé used in her 2011 performance at the Billboard Music Awards.

It’s been a major summer for Lizzo, who was nominated in five categories at this year’s VMAs, including artist of the year and song of the year, and took home the award for video for good. Her single “About Damn Time” became her second track to hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in July, a few years after “Truth Hurts” topped the charts in 2019. “About Damn Time” knocked Harry Styles’s “As It Was” out of the top spot, leading Styles — who won album of the year at the 2022 VMAs — to send her flowers in an adorable display of friendship.

More recently, Lizzo dropped a bridal-themed music video for “2 Be Loved (Am I Ready).” She’s also been promoting her shapewear line, Yitty, and continued to impress fans with her creative fashion and beauty looks, including a hot-pink thong bikini and “2 Be Loved”-themed nails.

Lizzo is among a number of stars who took the stage at the MTV VMAs this year. Other performers included Blackpink, Måneskin, and Jack Harlow. Harlow opened the show with a performance of “First Class” with Fergie, whose song he heavily samples in the track.