entertainment

It's the end of August, and students of all ages are readying themselves to go back to school. And five little ones from Teen Mom 2   have already started a brand-new year of studies and educational adventures. First up, Leah Messer's "big girls" Ali and Aleeah are all smiles as they gear up for their inaugural day: Meanwhile, Brian DEjeus ' firstborn Nova strikes a post before heading to the classroom:

Host Katty Perry   went big at the  VMAs   this past weekend, from her out-of-this-world  entrance   to her hilarious   Game of Thrones scen . Her  slam-dunl performance   of "Swish Swish," refereed by  Nicki Minaj , topped off the insane night at The Forum in Inglewood, California, and now Nicki's sounding off on their epic finale. "It was an honor to share the stage with my sister @katyperry last night," she wrote Monday (August 28) on Instagram, sharing a behind-the-scenes photo. How fashionable are their outfits — I mean, their uniforms? Skin-tight boots are  way  more fun than sneakers.

If Cara Maria  and Camila  get their way,  The Challenge XXX  finale will be a little bit of history repeating itself. The latest  Challenge  game, which split the remaining players into teams of four, tasked each crew with arranging each  Challenge  season chronologically, from  Challenge 2000  to  The Duel all the way up to the current game. And while Cara and Camila admitted they didn’t have much knowledge of what came before  Fresh Meat 2  (CT, who’d been appearing on the show since  Inferno , found himself struggling to remember much at all), the team pulled through, and came out in first place. For Cara and Camila, it was familiar territory.

Last year, Maroon 5   teamed up with  Kendricks Lamar — who went on to become the  big winner   at this past weekend's 2017 VMAs — for the sensitive club jam "Don't Known ." A few months later, the band revealed a  Future   collab called "Cold," which showcased a move to the more R&B-oriented sound Adam Levine had  teased   for the upcoming sixth Maroon 5 album. On Wednesday (August 30), the band rolled out its latest single along that path: the icy "What Lovers Do," featuring atmospheric contributions from SZA.

Lorde powered through not one but TWO jaw-dropping performances this week as she recovered from the flu. First, she gave her voice some much-needed rest and transformed the VMA stage into her  personal dance floor . Now that she's feeling better, she treated fans to an intimate iHeartRadio performance at The Houdini Estate in Los Angeles. "Oh my goodness. What a group of sweet faces you are," Lorde told the audience Tuesday night (August 29). "I don't know if you know this, but I've been a little unwell. So I [am] just reclaiming my voice now, so it's a joy to do it with you guys. It was the sickest I've ever been in my life, it was crazy." A mini-orchestra joined her for songs from  Melodrama , but she also revisited gems from  Pure Heroine . Below, watch clips of "Ribs" and her debut hit "Royals."

Justin Bieber has collaborated with videographer and close friend Rory Kramer through the years -- and the pop star was an unexpected guest at his old pal's Dare To Live  premiere celebration (the series debuted last night on MTV). "When your friend says he's not coming to your party...only to surprise you. @justinbieber (got your back til the day we die) @mtvdaretolive," Rory captioned the Instagram video above, which features the genuinely shocked  Dare to Live frontman sharing a big ol' hug with Biebs. What a moment! But Bieber wasn't Rory's only famous pal to mark the launch of the series: The Chainsmokers, Scooter Braun and Krewella also supported the adventure-seeker. Check out more photographs from the bash below -- and don't miss brand-new episodes of  Dare to Live  every Tuesday at 11/10c!

Niall Horan’s solo era picked up steam last night (August 29) when the  One Direction  singer kicked off his first-ever solo tour in — where else? — Dublin, Ireland. His  Flicker Sessions tour  is taking him to more intimate venues around the world (read: not the arenas or stadiums 1D regularly packed), but Niall definitely hasn’t  forgotten where he belongs . His setlist is all the proof you need. Along with “ This Town ,” “ Slow Hands ,” and upcoming tracks from his debut solo album, Niall also treated the Dublin crowd to a choice One Direction deep cut. In fan-shot footage from the concert, Niall strums his guitar while crooning “Fool’s Gold,” a ballad from 1D’s 2014 album,  Four . Naturally, the crowd knew every word, and Niall even let them lead the charge on the final chorus.

Liam Payne celebrated his 24th birthday on Tuesday (August 29) by posting a photo that's too precious for this world. Last March, the "Strip That Down" singer welcome  a baby boy, Bear Payne , with Cheryl Cole. They rarely share pics of their bundle of joy, so this Instagram post is especially adorable. "Best birthday ever," Payne wrote in the caption, adding bear and heart emojis for good measure. D'aww!

MTV is traveling back to an unforgettable pop culture-filled decade -- think boy bands, tamagotchis and jelly shoes. A brand-new competition series called  90's House is premiering on September 26 and will celebrate all things related to this era. Time to party like it's the 1990s  1999. The premise of the nostalgia-infused program: Lance Bass and Christina Milian will host the game show, which will place 12 millennial housemates in a '90s-inspired house. The crib will be outfitted with the technology, catch phrases and fashion from that decade (that means unplugging from modern devices). Each episode will feature the cast facing elimination by competing in various '90s-themed challenges. What's at stake: $90K, a Mazda Miata and two VIP tickets on a '90s cruise!

Are You The One Season 6 is fast approaching (September 20!) -- and that means it's time to get to know a brand-new crop of   extremely attractive ladies and gents who will be trying their damnedest to connect with their perfect match and pocket their share of $1 million. Truth Booths and Matchup Ceremonies await -- in the Big Easy! Without further ado, meet the 22 young men and women who will be featured on the hit matchmaking series with brand-new host Terrence J, and stay with MTV News as we gear up for the season premiere of  Are You the One?  on Wednesday, September 20 at 10/9c!

As One Directions 's career progressed, the group's members began taking a more central approach to songwriting; a peek at the credits for the 2014 album   Four , for example, reveals the hand of  Liam Lyane   and  Louis Tomlinson , especially, on most of the tracks, including "Fireproof" and "Ready to Run." That's why it makes perfect sense that all the members would unveil solo careers in the wake of 1D's ongoing hiatus. Tomlinson's launched just last month with the release of his debut single "Back To You," though the singer had previously expressed reservations about going the solo route at all. So, what made him change his mind? "If I'm being honest, I feel like I've got a little bit of a point to prove," Tomlinson told MTV News recently about his "clever" new single.

Hurricane Harvey wreaked havoc on Houston last weekend by flooding the city, killing at least 31 people , and injuring countless more. In some part of Texas, the rainfall reached over 50 inches, and the tropical storm continues to hurt towns as it moves into Louisiana. As residents evacuate and seek shelter, some of your favorite celebrities are lending a hand. Houston native Beyonce reportedly made a "siginifaction destination" after issuing a statement to  The Houston Chronicle  Monday (August 28): "My heart goes out to my hometown, Houston, and I remain in constant prayer for those affected and for the rescuers who have been so brave and determined to do so much to help."

Last we saw of Hasley   (in music video form, at least), she was chopping off her hair after fleeing a deadly shootout in the dramatic “Now and Never ” clip. Now, we pick up right where she left us, in the new visual for “Bad at Love,” which she co-directed with Sing J Lee. Rocking her fresh buzz cut, Halsey looks every bit the biker babe as she zooms across the desert on a motorcycle. You may notice that she’s wearing the same red print she wore in the “Now or Never” vid, and she even has fresh cuts on her face from that scary gun fight. She stops at a gas station, where we learn she’s a wanted fugitive (uh oh), and with the help of some new friends, she narrowly avoids being captured. Where will the desert road take her this time? Guess we’ll find out in Halsey’s next video.

They say third time's the charm -- so did Week 3 of Undressed   produce a 100% successful match rate? For starters, a gal named Valencia went on two dates -- with a man   and   a woman. During tonight's brand-new episodes of the hit dating series, the seven brave folks met and got to really talking in 30 minutes -- while only donning their undergarments. Week 1 found two pairs moving forward and 2 couples walking away from each other, while Week 2 saw three out of four duos opting to continue their budding connection outside of the confines of the televised space. But back to the Week 3 group: Valencia tried for a love connection with Jordan  and  Brianna -- plus Bryan/Katie and Alexa/Emily bared it all and shed their respective clothes/souls. So did romance ensue between the pairs, or did they lack lasting chemistry? Let's see how the "Yes/"No" portion of the program unfolded:

Alessia Cara left the  VMAs   this past weekend with some serious hardware, taking home her first two Moon Person trophies ever. Not only did the singer win Best Dance for her and Zedd’s “Stay,” but she was also one of five winners in the newly revamped  Best Fighting Against System   category, which honors music videos with timely social messages. Cara spoke about the latter award with MTV News correspondent Gaby Wilson, saying, “I think it was such an amazing thing that they gave it to everybody, because I feel like everybody who speaks their truth... deserves to be recognized. It’s important that we all speak up for certain things that we believe in and against certain things that we don’t. Thank you to all the artists who are doing that and using their privilege and using their platforms.”

The seventh season of Game OF Thrones  was uneven  at best, but at least it ended with a literal bang as The Wall came crashing down thanks to an assist from the Night King's new weapon of mass destruction: Viserion, the Undead Ice Dragon. Now that the Great War is officially on, we have some questions to mull over before the show returns for its eighth and final season some 18 months from now. At the end of Season 1, Daenerys Targaryen was told by the priestess Mirri Maz Dutt  that she would never be able to have children following the blood sacrifice of her unborn son Rhaego. It's not like the witch said point-blank that Daenerys couldn't have children; she hid it in a thinly veiled prophecy. "When the sun rises in the west and sets in the east," she said after the silver-haired Khaleesi asked when Drogo would return to normal. "When the seas go dry and mountains blow in the wind like leaves. When your womb quickens again, and you bear a living child. ...

Another year, another (Illuminati-controlled) VMAs . It’s my sincere regret to inform you — for the fourth year in a row — that the Illuminati pulled all theresting at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards. Yep, the secretive global elite were back and weirder than ever at the Katy Pery-hosted bash on Sunday night (August 27), where they attempted to brainwash the masses with their New World Order agenda. Want the proof? Of course you do, so embrace your inner conspiracy theorist and check it out.

The ongoing custody battle between Jenelle   and her mother Barbara regarding Jace has loomed over the   Teen Mom 2   duo for years -- until now. During tonight's episode, Jenelle revealed that the two finally had a date to appear in court (May 20), and the end was near regarding this difficult ordeal. "My number one choice is I get full custody," Jenelle explained to her fiancé David. "But ultimately, it's what the judge decides." While Jenelle stated she wasn't worried, she did divulge that she hasn't spoken to her son about the upcoming battle. "I'm not going to push that on him," she added. "When he's older, he's going to realize, 'Wow, my grandmother was really trying to convince me hard for no reason when my mom was fine.'" Meanwhile, Barbara had a different story for  TM2  co-executive producer Kristen about the little boy.

Tonight's episode picked up right where we left off from last week's installment -- at Alex 's   Great Gatsby gala .  Gratte   may have departed early to nurse his emotional wounds, but the party was just getting started for  Kelsey . Rather than mend things with her boyfriend, the Midwestern model opted to soothe herrelationship woes   by going for a late-night swim with a newly untethered Alex. Kelsey and the self-proclaimed Sarasota island king later walked inside to dry off — and that's the last we saw of them following the grand affair. Until the next day at the beach, that is. Though Kelsey arrived with Garrett, it was clear a little sexual tension was undercutting her conversation with Alex.

The VMAs   have become synonymous with iconic and game-changing performances. It seems that ever since the very first Video Music Awards, performers have been trying to raise the bar and put on even more groundbreaking performances with each passing year. But none of that could’ve been done without these historic and memorable performances that paved the way for future artists to make their mark. At the very first VMAs, Madonna put on a show that set in motion all of the craziness that the VMAs have since become known for. While the NSFW performance has since become one of the most notorious pop performances ever, it was not  exactly  planned. While walking down a 17-foot wedding cake, Madonna’s white stiletto slipped off. So, she rolled with it (literally) and dove onto the floor.

What’s Khalid ’s current “Location,” you ask? Probably at a  VMA   after-party celebrating his first-ever Moon Person for Best New Artist. Thanks to his stellar debut album,  American Teen , the 19-year-old bested fellow nominees Kodak Black, SZA, Young M.A., Julia Michaels, and Noah Cyrus. He was all smiles as he took the stage, and took the opportunity to thank his mom, his best friends, and his hometown of El Paso, Texas. “Thank you to all my fans. I love you guys so much,” he added. “And, before I leave, this is the start of something great.” No doubt about that.

DNCE brought Rod Stewart back to the  VMAs   with their updated cover of the singer's "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy" on Sunday night, turning up the sparkle and retro appeal. Stewart performed at the very first Video Music Awards in 1984, so this performance was extra special for him. Last year, DNCE won Best New Artist at the VMAs, so performing with a legend was a milestone for them, too. Performing from a satellite location in Las Vegas, DNCE transformed the whole set into a discotheque. Lights were dimmed and a disco ball was spun as DNCE launched into their funky version of the classic '80s tune. Bassist Cole Whittle spent an abnormally long time bouncing on his right leg — that's skill! — and Joe Jonas, complete with Freddie 'stache, grooved into the mic with a singalong. "If you want my body and you think I'm sexy / Come on, sugar, let me know / If you really need me, just reach out and touch me / Come on, honey, tell me so."

P!nk 's little girl, Willow, wasn't just one of the   most sharp-dressed attendees   at the   2017 MTV Video Music Awards . She was one of the most prepared people there, as she knew every single word to Mom's songs, and couldn't help but sing along when her mama was belting them out. When P!nk took the stage to  perform  before accepting her Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, Willow's eyes were fixed on her mom's flying car during "Raise Your Glass" — and who could blame her?!

When Paris Jackson took the stage Sunday (August 27) as the first presenter at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards , she had something important to say before getting to the  Best Pop nominess . "I'm seeing a lot of love and light here tonight already," she announced. "A lot of diversity, and a lot of potential power. You know, if we were to all put our voices together, do you realize the difference we would make, if we were all stand up united as one? Our impact, it would be 'uge." Hmm, where have we heard that word before?

There was nothing but love Sunday (August 27) at the  2017 Video Music Awards , where  Drake & Josh alumni  Drake Bell  reunited with his "brotha"  Josh Peck  at the Forum in Inglewood, California. Perhaps you remember the  first time  they hugged? It didn't go so well. Over a decade later, the actors you grew up watching on Nickelodeon have gotten much better at hugging it out. This is their first public appearance together since 2016, when Bell joined Peck for an episode of  Grandfathered . [Note: Nickelodeon and MTV News are both owned by Viacom.]

Now that the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards   have come and gone and  Katy Perry   can hang up her Moon Person suit, we're left reeling from another night full of incredible performances and memorable moments. We're  also  still trying to solve a number of mysteries that sprung up on the red carpet before the show, as some of the outfits we saw were truly mesmerizing and confusing in all their satiny, sequined glory. Here's a handful of our favorite snapshots from the 2017 VMAs that are our favorites for no particular reason, along with some of the questions we're still trying to answer about pretty much all of them.

It's been almost two days since Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas, and yet its path of destruction only seems to be growing. Here is what you need to know about the damage and what you can do to help. Hurricane Harvey, which was FIRST NAMED  a Tropical Storm on August 17, made landfall in Texas on Friday night. It is the strongest hurricane to hit the U.S. in more than a decade and has wreaked havoc on the communities in its path — especially Houston, the fourth most populous city in the nation. Flooding in the city has already reached "unprecedented," "catastrophic," levels, and is only expected to get worse, potentially reaching as much as 50 inches of rain by the end of the week, according to expert .

Fifth Harmony had tons of devilish tricks up their sleeve for their VMA performance of "Angel" and "Down" on Sunday night. Not only did they knock themselves off their feet, but they knocked a fifth member off the stage right at the beginning of their performance. As the opening notes of "Angel" kicked off, Normani, Ally, Dinah and Lauren took the stage, dressed as astronauts, with a mysterious fifth member (symbolizing the departed Camila Cabello). As they took off their space helmets, the fifth Moon Person was whisked away, leaving more room for 5H to do their thing.

If this were a numbers game, the betting odds on P!nk   defying gravity during her  Video VaNGAURD performance at the  2017 MTV Music award were pretty good. Thanks to one tricked-out ride and a career retrospective that showed she’s still the gal who can get the party started better than anyone else, she didn’t disappoint when it came to the party   or   the sky-high action. The pop star has spent a ton of time in the air since her 2000 debut thanks to her fondness for aerial choreography. Though her acrobatic moves didn’t make an appearance during her medley, a vintage, leopard-upholstered convertible did — complete with a hot pink teddy bear stuck to the hood ornament, just like in the video — with P!nk hopping on the hood of it and soaring over the crowd at the Forum just in time for the chorus to “Raise Your Glass” to turn things up to 11.

The 2017 MTV Video Music Awards , hosted by Katy Perry, proved to be an exciting whirlwind of jaw-dropping moments and show-stopping talent. Kendrick Lamar, who had the most nominations this year, brought home the most awards, including the coveted Video of the Year honor for “HUMBLE.” Ed Sheeran also received a statue for Artist of the Year, the award that marked the first time male and female musicians went head-to-head in a category. The most meaningful takeaways from the evening, though, might not have been the awards themselves, but the messages of equality and self-love that artists and presenters expressed throughout the entire show. 

The VMA  Best Rock category is a complete breakfast this year, with the five nominees offering a healthy dose of the diverse modern definitions of rock — including everything from youth culture to legacy acts. You've got Coldplay  representing rock's electro-dancey side, Twenty One Pilots  on the punk-rap side (or whatever you call their amalgamation of goodness), Fall OUT Boy  representing the anthemic, stadium side, Green Day on the legendary pop-punk side, and Foo Fighter , who are probably the best examples of rock stars ever, tying everything together. Hey, uh, people who declared "Rock is Dead " (ahem, Gene Simmons; ahem, Flea), take that!

When Kendrick Lamar   hits the  VAMs   this weekend — where he’s performing and nominated for eight awards — he won’t be the only artist representing TDE. Another member of his label family,  SZA , is nominated for Best New Artist after dropping her debut album,   CTRL , earlier this year. Speaking to MTV News correspondent Gaby Wilson recently, Kendrick explained why SZA’s nomination is so “well-deserved.” “I watched her slave over and over to make a masterpiece that not only represents her, but represents women all over the world,” he said. “[ CTRL ] is a record where it touched so many demographics — not only just women, but men. Something that we all can feel. It touched so many different spaces and connected with so many people. There’s nothing much more I can say — she needs to win.”

Katy Perry’s videography has taken us from the candy-coated dreamland of “California Gurls” to the retro-futuristic theme park of “Chained to the Rhythm,” and everywhere in between. But nothing is as wild as the bonkers kitchen inferno she survives in the “Bon Appetit” video. When it dropped back in May, we said  it might spoil your appetite, and that wasn’t hyperbolic — it’s four minutes of total kitchen chaos, as we see Katy get breaded, basted, and boiled to perfection.

I bought my first ringtone, "Shake it"  by Metro Station, back in 2007. A decade later, I can still remember every word to that catchy pop hook. (To be fair, it's not that hard. It's only six words and five of them are "shake.") It's crazy to think that a 30-second snippet from a single song can still drum up so many emotions, but a ringtone is a fascinating time capsule. Back then, it was reflection of your personality, an extension of who you were. So it makes sense that in 2006, at the height of the ringtone craze, the MTV Video Music Awards gave out the first — and last — accolade for Ringtone of the Year. Fort Minor's"where'd Go" reigned supreme, besting The Black Eyed Peas' "My Humps," Bubba Sparxxx’s "Ms. New Booty," Nelly's "Grillz," and Kanye West's "Gold Digger" to take home the coveted Moon Person (f.k.a. the Moonman).

What terrible thing did we do to deserve the most unsettling opening credits in American HorrOR Story history?  Oh wait . Mystery solved. With the September 5 premiere of  American Horror Story:Culf  looming, FX just dropped the anticipated main titles sequence. A staple of the  AHS  franchise, this installment's opening is especially stomach-churning. From creepy-crawlies slithering out of skin abscesses (yuck) to deranged clowns peeping out of large boxes (eeeek),  Cult  is not messing around with the provocative imagery.

Dare to Live   -- MTV's music-infused docuseries premiering on August 29 -- will feature musicians embarking on outrageous, thrill-seeking adventures. All thanks to Rory Kramer. So who is the man responsible for helping artists (such as The Chainsmokers, Kanye West, Steve Aoki, Martin Garrix and Krewella) take a step outside of their comfort zones? Rory is a world-renowned music videographer -- and after struggling with depression and overcoming adversity, he altered his life course to pursue his passions. Rory is best described as a “professional life liver” who dedicates his time to capturing precious moments.

Shawn Mendes already rules the radio, and now he's bringing his catchy, chart-topping songs to television in a whole new way. On Thursday, September 8, he's kicking off a fresh new season of   MTV Unplugged   — yep, MTV's iconic franchise is back, and Mendes is the perfect pop star to launch the revival. "I'm so thrilled and honored to be able to help bring the  Unplugged  series back," the  Illuminate  singer said. "It's a show that truly highlights artistry and brings unique performances to fans that they can't see anywhere else."

Justin Bieber has some very famous friends. In the luxurious "I'm the One" music video, he  hangs out   in and around a sprawling mansion with DJ Khaled, Chance the Rapper, Lil Wayne, and Quavo, and they all look like the best of pals. He also  got a pass   from his mate Luis Fonsi from forgetting the Spanish lyrics to "Despacito," the song that ultimately became  the most streamed song ever . But on a new dance-pop song with BloodPoP that dropped Thursday (August 17), Bieber sings about having some very specific problems about friendship as it relates to love and romance. "And if it ends / Can we be friends?" Bieber sings over a propulsive dance beat before a pitch-shifted vocal breakdown reminiscent of his 2015 smashes "Sorry" and "Where Are U Now?"