Shaboozey brought his The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales album to the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards stage on Sunday (Sept. 27) in Los Angeles.
Inspired by his favorite Western films, the DMV native kicked off his performance with album standout “Cowgirl.” Rocking a dark brown leather trench coat, Shaboozey hangs out with friends in a rambunctious saloon, and the wild night takes a turn when his love interest steals the show.
The 31-year-old hops out of the bar and moves into his “High Noon” collaboration with Gunna, as the other saloon frequenters cause chaos behind him. The Atlanta native matched Shaboozey’s cowboy aesthetic with leather pants and a trench coat of his own when he jumps out of a chariot carriage right into his guest verse on the country-hip-hop cocktail.
Gunna follows Boozey’s catchy chorus with a call back to his family’s country roots. “My folks from the country and ain’t have a pot to piss/ Young Gunna went country with Shaboozey in this bitch,” he raps.
Shaboozey’s performance on the broadcast drew praise from fans on social media. “Great staging on Shaboozey and Gunna’s performance, on par with Chappell’s Good Luck Babe one from a year or two ago. Just as great vocals as well! #VMAs,” one person wrote on X.
Shaboozey picked up a pair of nominations at the 2026 MTV VMAs, as he’s nominated for best country and his “Cowgirl” visual is up for best cinematography.
The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales arrived on July 31 via EMPIRE; it debuted at No. 12 on the Billboard 200 and topped the Independent Albums chart.
Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox
Sign Up
