The 26-year-old rapper had a year to remember!
Cardi B had an unforgettable year!
From performing at the GRAMMYs to releasing her debut album to revealing a secret marriage -- and very public divorce -- the 26-year-old's year was one to remember. To top it all off, Cardi also welcomed her first child, a daughter named Kulture.
Keep reading for Cardi's 13 best moments of 2018!
1. Performs With Bruno Mars at the GRAMMYs
Cardi started the year off right, with a show-stopping performance of “Finesse” at the GRAMMY Awards. Along with Bruno Mars, the rainbow bra-and-shorts-clad Cardi brought down the house with a live rendition of the 2017 hit song. While the pair lost out on the two awards they were nominated for, Cardi just scored four nominations for next year’s ceremony.
2. Drops Invasion of Privacy & Breaks Records
In April, Cardi wowed fans with her debut studio album, Invasion of Privacy. With instantly iconic songs like “Bodak Yellow” -- which made her the first female rapper to hit number one on the Billboard charts in more than 20 years -- and “I Like It,” Cardi’s recently announced GRAMMY nods come as no surprise. But the new music didn’t stop there! In September, DJ Snake released “Taki Taki,” which featured Cardi, Selena Gomez and Ozuna. Just a month later, Cardi dropped a new single, “Money,” her first new music since releasing her album. As a result of her blockbuster year, Cardi became the first female rapper to have three number ones on Billboard’s singles chart.
3. Confirms Pregnancy on Saturday Night Live
After much speculation, Cardi confirmed her pregnancy in the most incredible way -- while performing as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live in April. Initially wearing a stomach-hiding ensemble, Cardi changed for her second performance of the evening, opting for a figure-hugging dress that displayed her bump loud and proud.
4. Co-hosts The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
With her newly revealed bump on full display, Cardi joined Jimmy Fallon to co-host The Tonight Show. It was one hilariously awkward moment after another, with Cardi discussing pregnancy-induced strength, doing impressions and playing “Box of Lies” with the late-night host. At the end of the show, Cardi showed her performance prowess by singing “Money Bag” with an assist from The Roots.
5. Performs Pregnant at Billboard Latin Music Awards
The unforgettable performances just kept on coming, but none was more talked about than her very pregnant appearance at the Billboard Latin Music Awards. Cardi stunned in a figure-hugging, bubblegum pink dress, while she took the stage with Ozuna to perform the Spanglish single "La Modelo.” The performance came after Cardi announced she’d be taking some time off before welcoming her little one.
6. Confirms She Married Offset
In perhaps Cardi’s most shocking moment of the year, the rapper revealed in June that she and her supposed fiance, Offset, had actually tied the knot in September 2017. She announced the news on Twitter, telling her fans that she wanted to keep that spur-of-the-moment decision for herself. As for that proposal onstage in October 2017? “I appreciate and love my husband so much for still wanting for me to have that special moment that every girl dreams of when he got down on one knee and put a ring on my finger and he did that for me,” she explained.
7. Welcomes Daughter Kulture
Shortly after revealing her secret marriage, Cardi announced that she and Offset had welcomed their daughter, Kulture. Following Kulture's birth, Cardi dropped out of her previously announced tour with Bruno Mars, citing her daughter as her reason for staying home. In September, Cardi gave fans their first peek at her little one, with a pic of Kulture's hands. Earlier this month, Cardi shared the first photo of her daughter's face, calling her, "My heart."
8. Opens the MTV Video Music Awards (& Takes Home Three Trophies)
Just months after welcoming her daughter, Cardi returned to the stage to host the MTV Video Music Awards. The "Money" singer stunned in a red, strapless gown when she came out holding what appeared to be a baby. Many fans were excited about the possibility of getting a peek at Kulture, but, when Cardi opened the blanket, she hilariously revealed a Moon Person. It was a good first night back at work, as Cardi took home three awards.
9. Fights With Nicki Minaj During Fashion Week
Perhaps the most-publicized Cardi story of the year came when she and Nicki Minaj got into a fight during New York Fashion Week. The brawl went down at the Harper's Bazaar Celebrates Icons event when, according to an eyewitness, Cardi lunged, and later threw her shoe at, Nicki. Following the encounter, Cardi claimed that Nicki made "comments about my abilities to take care of my daughter." Since then, the two rappers have gone after each other with Nicki claiming that she was "humiliated" by the fight, while Cardi said she wasn't embarrassed by the brawl.
10. Takes Fashion to a Whole New Level at the American Music Awards
Cardi turned heads in October when she showed up to the American Music Awards in a stunning floral ensemble. The "Ring" singer looked incredible as she posed in a striking Dolce & Gabbana gown, which featured a thigh-high slit. Adorned with red, blue, yellow and white flowers, Cardi finished her look with a matching headdress and gold, dangling earrings. It seems the look was a lucky one for Cardi, who won three awards that night.
11. Lands a Netflix Show
In November, Netflix announced a new competition series with Cardi, Chance the Rapper and T.I. as judges. When ET spoke to Cardi, she revealed what will set Rhythm + Flow apart from other series of that ilk. "We're actually looking for hip-hop artists. Like, people do like music, talent, all these dancing things, we're looking for rap artists, hip-hop artists," she said. "I'm looking for the next Cardi B."
12. Buys Her Mom a House
That same month, Cardi graciously spread the wealth for an amazing reason. The rapper took to Instagram to share the news that she had purchased a house for her mom, something she called "a dream." "Last year i was so thirsty to buy my mom a house but the ones i was interested for her weren’t at my price range," she wrote in part. "I worked and worked and now I’m here!! Thank you everybody who supported me to make my childhood dreams come true! Buy my momma a house!!.....don’t ask me for sh*t motherf**kers i got big girls bills ??!"
13. Announces Split From Offset
Cardi's giant year came with an unfortunate final act when the rapper announced that she had split from her husband. In the since-deleted Instagram video, Cardi explained that "things just haven't been working out between us for a long time." The divorce news came after multiple allegations of infidelity against Offset, which began circulating after Cardi announced her pregnancy. Since the announcement, Offset has tweeted that he misses Cardi.
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