Raye Asks 'Where Is My Husband?' at 2026 MTV VMAs

Raye made her solo debut at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards with a six-piece string section and more than a dozen additional musicians behind her — and she used the platform to ask one question: "Where Is My Husband?"

The south London singer opened her set with "I Will Overcome," a song that references the legacy of the late Amy Winehouse. She performed it draped in a floor-length white fur coat. When the garment dropped away, the 28-year-old launched into "Where Is My Husband?" in a glimmering red dress. As is her custom, she traded high heels for high notes and performed barefoot.

The staging reached back into her family history. The performance included an updated recording from her grandmother, whose voice appears on the original studio version of the track. "I know you have been promoting this song for a long time," her grandmother says on the recording. "But be patient, my granddaughter. Your husband is coming." Raye also slipped an interpolation of the disco-funk hit "Funkytown" into the set.

The song anchors a breakthrough year. Raye released her second studio album, This Music May Contain Hope, in March. The record's lead single, "Where Is My Husband!", became her global breakthrough.

In a Rolling Stone review of the album, Rob Sheffield wrote: "The south London belter has a story to tell on This Music May Contain Hope, and it's an epic autobiography of romantic despair and nonstop emotional turmoil. Her mighty pipes are as unstoppable as her flair for mascara-melting melodrama."

Raye is nominated for Song of the Year for "Where Is My Husband," which peaked at Number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. She faces a heavyweight field: Madonna and Carpenter's "Bring Your Love," BTS' "Swim," Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas," Huntr/x's "Golden," Olivia Dean's "Man I Need," and the PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson "Stateside" remix.

Her night did not end with the solo set. Raye joined a special VMAs tribute to George Michael, who died a decade ago on Christmas Day 2016 at age 53. She performed alongside Sombr and Teddy Swims, with Adam Blackstone serving as musical director for the remembrance.

Michael's legacy at the ceremony runs deep. He sold more than 100 million records over his career, collected 16 MTV VMAs and MTV Europe Music Awards nominations over his lifetime, and won four awards. He received the Video Vanguard lifetime achievement award in 1989 and won Best Direction for "Father Figure" in 1988.

Raye's performance followed a historic opening set by Madonna, who returned to the VMAs after 23 years with cameos from Carpenter, Charli XCX, Sombr, Seth Rogen and others. Madonna leads this year's nominations with 13, followed by Taylor Swift with 11. The Artist of the Year category pits Madonna and Swift against Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Sabrina Carpenter and Morgan Wallen.

With a Song of the Year nomination still undecided and a George Michael tribute under her belt, Raye has positioned herself as the VMAs' breakout storyteller of the night — grandmother's prophecy still pending.