Lady Gaga Leads 2025 MTV VMA Nominations with Star-Studded Field
Hello, I’m Avery Sinclair, and I’m here to serve you a no-BS recap of the 2025 MTV VMA nominations. Another day, another assembly of pop divas and hip-hop icons battling for Moonmen; let’s dive in without the glittery fluff.
MTV dropped the official list of nominees for its 2025 Video Music Awards today, teasing a spectacle set to stream live on September 7 at New York’s UBS Arena. The announcement confirms that Lady Gaga again tops the pack, but she’s not the only heavyweight vying for trophy supremacy.
Lady Gaga scored the highest number of nominations this year, a total of four nods that include Best Album for her latest opus Mayhem, Video of the Year for “Die With a Smile” (a collab with Bruno Mars), Artist of the Year, and Best Choreography for “Abracadabra.” According to MTV’s press release published on E! Online, this marks the third occasion Gaga has led the nominations roster, matching her runs in 2010 and 2020.
Bruno Mars trails closely behind with a host of mentions for his work on “APT.” featuring Rosé, plus the joint effort with Gaga. He’s up for Video of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Collaboration, and Best Pop Video. Billboard and Variety reports confirm he’s riding high this cycle, splitting attention between his solo cuts and high-profile duets.
Kendrick Lamar isn’t far off either, amassing 10 nominations across major categories. His track “Not Like Us” grabbed nods for Video of the Year, Best Hip-Hop, and Best Direction, per pgLang and MTV’s official announcement. It’s another reminder that Lamar’s visual storytelling remains a benchmark in the rap community.
Screens are buzzing about Rosé of Blackpink fame, who netted nine nominations, while Sabrina Carpenter pulled in eight. Pop powerhouses Ariana Grande and The Weeknd each landed seven mentions, rounding out a field that mixes proven superstars with up-and-comers.
Speaking of new faces, there are 33 first-time nominees on this year’s ballot. TikTok star Alex Warren earned a Song of the Year nod for “Ordinary,” and rising actress-turned-singer Gigi Perez got her first Best New Artist nomination. Country veteran Blake Shelton also broke ground with his inaugural VMA nod, sharing a Best Collaboration slot with Post Malone for “Pour Me A Drink.”
All eyes now turn to the Artist of the Year category, where Beyoncé and Taylor Swift remain tied at 30 VMA wins apiece. If either takes home another Moonman, they’ll set a new record, signaling yet another milestone in VMA history.
Voting is officially open through September 5 at 6 PM ET for all categories, except Best New Artist, which stays live during the telecast. From industry veterans to viral breakout stars, this year’s nominations promise plenty of drama—and probably a few questionable acceptance speeches.
So there you have it – the VMA nomination circus kicks off soon, and I can hardly wait for the mess.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! Online
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
