Lizzo Lives Her 'Sister Act 2' Fantasy

By Kristy Puchko | TV | June 18, 2019 |

By Kristy Puchko | TV | June 18, 2019 |

Lizzo cut loose last night at The MTV Movie Awards, performing her hit single “Juice” with eye-catching choreography and a fleet of back-up dancers. But her signature swagger and kinetic verve wasn’t what had Twitter geeking out over Lizzo’s latest. Fans were going wild because the playful rapper used her stage time to pay tribute to a beloved movie with a strong Black female lead: Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit.

Specifically, Lizzo alluded to the finale performance, in which a choir led by a robe-sporting Lauryn Hill brings a fresh spin to the church hymn, “Joyful, Joyful.”

Here’s Lizzo’s version.

We are still dancing to @Lizzo's performance!!! #MTVAwards pic.twitter.com/YsYosGqzSE

— MTV (@MTV) June 18, 2019

Did you catch the notes of “Joyful Joyful” ahead of the opening bars of “Juice?” Please also spot the robe Lizzo starts with and the cutaway to the stage crew telling the dancers to “take off their robes.” And the risers, the concept, all a nod to Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, starring Whoopi Goldberg.

Check out the inspiration here:

And here’s a glimpse of the praise Twitter rained on Lizzo:

"@lizzo says take off your robes" 😂😂😂

DYING AT THIS SISTER ACT 2 REFERENCE IN THE LIZZO PERFORMANCE ON THE #MTVAwards pic.twitter.com/uBhkhtKFlb

— Will Ganss (@willganss) June 18, 2019

Sister Act 2 is black history. It is Black Culture. It is my blood and I'm……. @lizzo why do you do this for us. What did we do to deserve you.

— Steenz! (@oheysteenz) June 18, 2019

Sister Act 2, I see you Lizzo! 😍 pic.twitter.com/7f32tV75K4

— A. M. Lalonde (@am_lalonde) June 18, 2019

But Lizzo didn’t just have fans of this 1993 comedy pumped. Goldberg herself took to Twitter to praise the performance:

@lizzo Girl YOU knocked the crap out of last night, and as your newest fan… kudos kudos kudos!!!

— Whoopi Goldberg (@WhoopiGoldberg) June 18, 2019

Game recognizes game.