25 best award show hosts
By Reed Gaudens
23. Katy Perry
Show: 34th Annual MTV Video Music Awards (2017)
Memorable Moments: From beginning to end at the 2017 VMAs, Katy Perry put on a meme-worthy show. She flew in from the ceiling as a moonwoman, she commented on the state of the world, she referenced the popular phrase “wig snatched” (which she’d later reference again on American Idol), and most importantly, she poked fun at herself. In true Katy Perry fashion, it was a colorful and crazy show from the minute she hit the stage to the second she closed the show with a performance of her should-have-been-a-smash-hit single “Swish Swish.”
Public Reception: Considering public opinion of Katy Perry was at an all-time low in the summer of 2017, she didn’t receive high marks from critics or the mainstream audience rattling off opinions on Twitter. Leading up to the release of her album Witness that June, Perry had been hit by a wave of negative press regarding everything from her haircut to her to accusations of cultural appropriation. But beyond the chatter, Perry should be commended for her natural-born abilities to rise to any occasion and make the world laugh.
Must Read. Katy Perry's Witness transcends its missed mainstream connection. light
Why They’re One of the Best: Say what you want about Katy Perry, but you can never say that she’s not a tireless entertainer and an all-out trooper. To take the helm of MTV’s biggest annual stage during a time when the general public isn’t in your corner is a daring move, and she nailed it. Yes, the writing could have been much stronger and the jokes could have been way sharper, but Perry proved she’s a pop star of all trades. If you hadn’t already been laughing with her larger-than-life persona and music videos, hosting the VMAs showcased her inner comedian.