Shaboozey puts country and hip-hop on display with Gunna, performs ‘Cowgirl’ and ‘High Noon’ at VMAs

The performance marked the pair’s first time taking the VMAs stage.

Shaboozey made his MTV Video Music Awards debut Sunday night, blending country and hip-hop as the DMV native performed “Cowgirl” and “High Noon” alongside rapper Gunna. Both songs appear on his fourth studio album, “The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales.”

The 31-year-old country-rap star’s performance echoed classic Western films. He opened with “Cowgirl,” the album’s second single, performing in a saloon with backup performers laughing, dancing and playing cards, as a bar fight later broke out.

Shaboozey then walked out of the bar and transitioned into “High Noon” alongside the Atlanta rapper, who stepped out of an all-black carriage before joining him. The pair wore brown leather cowboy attire and trench coats during their fiery performance, fitting the Western theme.

Gunna came through with his verse, giving a nod to his country roots: “My folks from the country and ain’t have a pot to piss / Young Gunna went country with Shaboozey in this b—h,” he rapped. Shaboozey followed with his upbeat chorus to close out the performance.

Shaboozey picked up two nominations for “Cowgirl” at the 2026 MTV VMAs: Best Country and Best Cinematography. The song, released in June, is one of the standout singles from “The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales,” which was released in late July. “Summer House” star Ciara Miller, who made a cameo in the “Cowgirl” video, introduced Shaboozey at Sunday night’s VMAs.

The country music star is currently on the road for his “Outlaws Never Die Tour,” which kicked off on Sept. 8 in Phoenix. So far, he has visited Austin, Dallas, Nashville, Atlanta and more. The tour is expected to run through Oct. 27, with remaining stops including Boston, Washington, D.C., New York City, Philadelphia and Chicago. The tour wraps in Los Angeles, according to MusicRow and Live Nation.