Madonna, Maluma to perform new song 'Medellín' at 2019 Billboard Music Awards
Madonna and Maluma are one, two, cha-cha-cha-ing into the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.
The pair are set to perform their new song “Medellín” — released Wednesday as the lead single from Madonna’s upcoming 14th studio album Madame X — at this year’s ceremony, Billboard announced Friday.
The set will mark Madonna’s first televised performance of new music since her Rebel Heart era in 2015, and her first BBMAs performance since her 2016 tribute to Prince.
Prior to the ceremony, Madonna, Maluma, and MTV will premiere the “Medellín” music video Wednesday, April 24 at 9:00 p.m. BST / 4:00 p.m. ET / 1:00 p.m. PT during a live, globally televised event. The single precedes Madame X (named after a fabricated persona Madonna has called “a secret agent traveling around the world, changing identity, fighting for freedom, and bringing light to dark places.”) with its breezy, reggaeton-influenced beats and suggestive lyrics sung in both English and Spanish. The track was produced by the pop superstar’s Music and Confessions on a Dancefloor collaborator, Mirwais.
A post shared by MALUMA (@maluma) on Apr 19, 2019 at 8:07am PDT
In late 2018, Madonna told Vogue Italia her the album would contain influences from Latin cultures — particularly Portugal, as she lived in Lisbon throughout the process of writing and recording Madame X.
“I’ve just met lots of really amazing musicians, and I’ve ended up working with a lot of these musicians on my new record, so Lisbon has influenced my music and my work. How could it not? I don’t see how I could have gone through that year without being informed by all this input of culture,” she said. “It’s also such a nice antidote to what’s going on in the music business now where everything’s so formulaic, and every song has 20 guest artists on it, and everyone sounds the same. Something’s gotta give.”
Previously announced BBMA performers include Kelly Clarkson, BTS, Halsey, Khalid, Sam Smit, Normani, Lauren Daigle, Panic! at the Disco, and 2019 ICON Award recipient, Mariah Carey.
Clarkson hosts the 2019 Billboard Music Awards Wednesday, May 1 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on NBC. Ahead of Madonna and Maluma’s performance, listen to “Medellín” above.
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