Nicki Minaj, Grande to perform at MTV awards

Ariana Grande, L, and Nicki Minaj

NEW YORK: Nicki Minaj and Ariana Grande will reunite to perform at the latest MTV Video Music Awards, the network announced.
Minaj, one of the most successful female rappers, will join Grande in the pop star’s single “Side to Side” at the gala Sunday night at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
The pair, along with English singer Jessie J, collaborated together at the 2014 VMAs in one of the night’s first and best-received performances.
Minaj again kicked off the awards in 2015 in a performance with pop superstar Taylor Swift — despite Minaj’s criticism of MTV that year for passing over her “Anaconda” in nominations for Video of the Year.
Previously announced performers for Sunday’s awards include Rihanna, who will be presented with a career Video Vanguard Award, as well as the rapper Future and Britney Spears, who is releasing a new album.
MTV on Wednesday announced that award presenters for Sunday will include reality television star Kim Kardashian, whose husband Kanye West is up for the top prize with “Famous.”


Other presenters will include New York-born hip-hop mogul Puff Daddy, R&B singing great Alicia Keys, second-generation rapper and actor Jaden Smith and British singer Rita Ora.
A year after Miley Cyrus enjoyed much of the focus by presenting the awards, MTV will forego a traditional host.
The gala will instead have a series of presenters including rap producer DJ Khaled, who will appear from a luxury box in the arena.