NEW YORK (AP) — The MTV Video Music Awards are set to return on Wednesday night, and all eyes are on Taylor Swift. There’s a chance she could become the most awarded artist in VMA history.
Swift leads the nominations this year with a total of 12 nods. Eight of these are for her music video “Fortnight,” and she’s also recognized in two social media categories, along with nominations for Best Pop and Artist of the Year. Close behind her is Post Malone, her collaborator on “Fortnight,” who has 11 nominations total. He shares 10 nominations with Swift and received his 11th for his country hit “I Had Some Help,” featuring Morgan Wallen.
While it’s not confirmed if Swift will attend the event, should she show up and win, it would provide her with a major platform to promote Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. Just the night before, Swift publicly endorsed the vice president after Harris participated in a debate against former president Donald Trump.
If history is any guide, Swift may take the stage multiple times to give acceptance speeches. Last year, she won nine VMAs, bringing her total count to a remarkable 23. This puts her just behind Beyoncé, who has 30 awards, while Madonna follows with 20. Lady Gaga has 19 awards to her name.
If Swift secures seven wins, she would tie with Beyoncé’s record. Winning eight would make her the top artist in VMA history.
This scenario, however, depends on whether Beyoncé also wins awards this year. Beyoncé is nominated for Song of the Year with her track “Texas Hold ‘Em” and is also recognized in two social media categories.
The VMAs will kick off at 8 p.m. Eastern Time, taking place at the UBS Arena on Long Island, New York. The show will be hosted by Megan Thee Stallion, making her debut as a host for an awards show. She will also perform during the event. For the last two years, Nicki Minaj hosted the ceremony, first on her own in 2023 and with Lil Wayne and Jack Harlow in 2022.
Katy Perry is set to receive the Video Vanguard Award and will also be performing. This prestigious award has been given to many iconic artists in the past, including Shakira, Beyoncé, Minaj, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, and Missy Elliott.
Other performers scheduled for the evening include Eminem, who will open the show, along with Benson Boone, Sabrina Carpenter, Megan Thee Stallion, Chappell Roan, GloRilla, Halsey, Lenny Kravitz, LISA, Rauw Alejandro, Karol G, LL COOL J, Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello, and Anitta, who will be joined by Fat Joe, DJ Khaled, and Tiago PZK.
You can catch the VMAs on MTV, which will also be simulcast on various networks including BET, BET Her, CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV, MTV2, Nick at Nite, Paramount Network, Pop, TV Land, VH1, as well as Univision for Spanish viewers.
