Orville Peck Defends Wearing a Leather Jacket in Nearly 90-Degree Heat at 2026 MTV VMAs: ‘I’m Committed’ (Exclusive)

Skyler Caruso, Daniela AvilaSun, September 27, 2026 at 11:48 PM UTC

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Orville Peck attends the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty -

Orville Peck wore a leather jacket in nearly 90-degree heat at the MTV VMAs

He presented the George Michael tribute performance, honoring trailblazers for queer artists and teasing exciting surprises for viewers

Peck recently released his most personal album, Mule, exploring addiction, heartbreak, and identity struggles in a vulnerable way

Orville Peck is bringing the heat.

The country music star, 38, opened up to PEOPLE exclusively on the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards red carpet about his bold decision to wear a leather jacket to the awards show in nearly 90-degree temperatures on Sunday, Sept. 27.

“It was a choice, but I am committed now. There’s no going back, and I am happy to be representing the gays, so I feel good,” Peck tells PEOPLE exclusively before heading into the ceremony held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

Orville Peck attends the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.Credit: John Shearer/WireImage

For the night’s look, Peck wore a black leather jacket with studded detailing and fringe dripping off the sleeves. He styled it over a white Keith Haring T-shirt and paired it with black leather pants, black boots, a black cowboy hat and his signature mask.

Peck serves as a presenter at this year’s MTV VMAs, where he’s been tapped to introduce the highly anticipated George Michael tribute performance. RAYE, Sombr and Teddy Swims will bring the number to life under the musical direction of Adam Blackstone.

“Anybody from that era who blazed trails for queer artists like myself to be open and free, I mean it’s just such a special honor to be presenting that,” he says. “But I’m also just really filled with joy today because I feel really happy that we are celebrating him today.”

Orville Peck performs onstage during a concert at The Roundhouse on June 29, 2026 in London, England.Credit: James Klug/Getty

“The performance is going to be amazing,” he teases. “There are a couple surprises involved, so I think people are going to be really, really excited to see it.”

Elsewhere in the interview with PEOPLE, Peck spoke about being the first openly gay male singer to grace the cover of Playgirl magazine, making history with the September 2026 issue.

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“I’m always a little hesitant of doing too much of that because I feel like every photo shoot I do now I’m taking my shirt off,” he says with a laugh. “I feel like if I’m rolling my eyes other, other must be as well.”

He adds, “But I will say, it was a lot of fun. It was with an iconic photographer. I don’t know, it’s always fun to do silly stuff.”

Orville Peck attends Elton John AIDS Foundation’s 34th Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party on March 15, 2026 in West Hollywood, Calif.Credit: Michael Loccisano/Getty

On Sept. 18, Peck dropped his fourth studio album, Mule. The country star spoke with PEOPLE exclusively about the release, which details his darkest year, and why he considers it his most personal album to date.

“I know that when I am the most vulnerable and go the deepest with my lyrics, it’s something that other people really connect with,” he said at the time. “So I’m scared — I mean, it’s really personal stuff that is frightening to talk about with anybody, never mind release to strangers.”

On Mule, Peck unpacks his addiction, the breakup and the identity crisis that nearly cost him his life. The record is the latest in a series of equestrian-themed albums and captures this fraught chapter remarkably.

“I felt trapped between two worlds—the public persona, my private life—which is sort of a mule, trapped between being a donkey and a horse, neither here nor there,” he said. “I had to learn how to navigate that. It’s me telling the 20-year-old Orville, ‘We can do this.’ ”

Hosted by Snoop Dogg, the 2026 VMAs are airing live from Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 27, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. ET (4:30 to 6:30 p.m. PT) on CBS, with a simulcast on MTV and streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S. The show will be available globally on Paramount+ and MTV the following day.

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”