The Pussycat Dolls brought a heavy dose of early-2000s nostalgia to the 2026 American Music Awards.
Nicole Scherzinger, Ashley Roberts, and Kimberly Wyatt reunited as a three-member version of the group on May 25, marking 20 years since The Pussycat Dolls first appeared at the AMAs. The trio returned with a fiery performance, matching red stage looks, and one very familiar hit.
They performed ‘Don’t Cha’ with Busta Rhymes at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, turning the moment into a direct throwback for fans who remember the group’s original chart-dominating run.
The Pussycat Dolls Return In Matching Red Looks
Scherzinger, 47, led the performance in a red long-sleeve mock-neck stage look. Toward the end, she added a white hoodie printed with the famous lyric, “don’t you wish your girlfriend was hot like me.”
Roberts and Wyatt, both 44, matched the red theme with coordinated performance looks, gloves, and knee-high boots. The styling leaned straight into the group’s old stage identity: sharp, bold, and built for a big awards-show camera sweep.
The group first announced its latest reunion in March 2026, along with their new track, ‘Club Song’. They had previously tried to reunite in 2019, but the planned tour was canceled during the pandemic.
Nicole Scherzinger Calls Busta Rhymes A Legend
Ahead of the show, Scherzinger reflected on how strange and special it felt to return to the AMAs two decades later.
“It’s incredible,” she said. “I believe it might have been our first time performing in 2006, and it’s crazy that the time flies so much to think that it’s 20 years later.”
She also praised Busta Rhymes, who joined them for the performance. “Busta is a legend,” Scherzinger said. “We love him. I actually just did a couple shows with him over the weekend overseas, and to be reunited with him, to be on the same stage with him, is always an honor.”
Scherzinger added that returning with Roberts and Wyatt at this stage in their lives felt meaningful.
Not Every Original Member Returned
The AMAs reunion did not include former Pussycat Dolls members Jessica Sutta, Melody Thornton, or Carmit Bachar.
Bachar previously claimed in a March 17 Instagram statement that she was not contacted about the decision to reboot the group or tour plans. Since then, the tour has reportedly been canceled, except for one remaining show.
The trio is still scheduled to perform at Outloud Music Festival during L.A.’s WeHo Pride celebrations.
For longtime fans, the performance was less about surprise and more about muscle memory. The red looks, the Busta Rhymes cameo, and that ‘Don’t Cha’ hook were enough to send the AMAs straight back to 2006.
