Following Jackson’s sudden death in June and his final funeral last month, this weekend’s 2009 MTV Video Music Awards will start with Janet Jackson’s performance dedicated to her late brother Michael, as MTV announced.
According to TMZ, the performance will feature more than 20 backup dancers and choreography from some of the biggest names in the dance world. However, MTV denied rumors saying that choreographer Frank Gaston is not involved. Kryiss Grant, one of the dancers who will appear at the VMAs and an usher at Jackson’s funeral last week, told TMZ the performance is being rehearsed almost 15 hours a day and that when all is said on done, “there won’t be a dry eye in the house” after Janet is finished honoring her brother.
That sounds great and scary in the same time, but Janet’s and Michael’s fans would be thrilled to watch the woman who has won nine VMAs and who, on Sunday, will sing for the King of Pop, for the artist who has contributed some of the most unforgettable moments in the history of the MTV Video Music Awards (in 1984, he won a handful of Moonmen for his “Thriller” video and a decade later, he shared a famous kiss with wife Lisa Marie Presley onstage). Her appearance will be really special as she decided to look back over his life and career - a career that also helped attract viewers to MTV when the network was in its formative years.
Furthermore, Rolling Stone magazine reported that performers include Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Lady Gaga, Green Day, Pink, Taylor Swift and Muse. Among the evening’s presenters are Katy Perry, Nelly Furtado, Leighton Meester, Chace Crawford, Ne-Yo and Miranda Cosgrove.
“Twilight” stars Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner will also appear on the show to debut an exclusive expanded trailer for “New Moon,” the second film in the vampire saga. The festivities will once again be hosted by Forgetting Sarah Marshall star Russell Brand, and presenters include Katy Perry, Nelly Furtado and select members of the Gossip Girl crew.
The VMAs will air live this Sunday, September 13th from New York’s Radio City Music Hall at 9 p.m.

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 10th, 2009 at 6:27 am and is filed under News.