In a spectacular return to form, pop titan Lady Gaga has once again asserted her dominance over the music world, leading the pack for the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards with a staggering 12 nominations. Her collaborator, the multi-talented Bruno Mars, is hot on her heels with 11 nominations, a testament to their blockbuster duet “Die With a Smile” and Mars’ collaboration with Rosé on the hit “APT.”
The nominations, announced Tuesday, signal a new era for the VMAs, ending Taylor Swift’s two-year run as the most-nominated artist. Gaga’s nominations, largely driven by her latest album Mayhem and the “Abracadabra” and “Die With a Smile” music videos, span a wide range of categories including the night’s top honors: Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Best Album.
The highly anticipated “Die With a Smile” video is a frontrunner in several major categories, with nods for Video of the Year, Best Collaboration, and Best Pop. It’s a fierce competition, with the video facing off against a star-studded field that includes Kendrick Lamar’s incendiary “Not Like Us,” Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather,” and Ariana Grande’s “Brighter Days Ahead.”
While Gaga and Mars are the clear frontrunners, the list of nominees is a who’s who of global music’s biggest players. Kendrick Lamar secured a strong showing with 10 nominations, followed by Rosé and Sabrina Carpenter, who are tied with eight nods each. The Weeknd and Ariana Grande each received seven nominations, while Billie Eilish garnered six.
Notably, two of music’s biggest icons, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, are tied for the most career VMA wins with 30 each. Both artists received a single nomination this year for Artist of the Year, setting up a thrilling showdown. If either wins, they will break the tie and become the most-awarded artist in VMA history.
The 2025 VMAs, which will air live on Sunday, September 7, from the UBS Arena in New York, have also introduced two new categories: Best Pop Artist and Best Country, a move that reflects the evolving landscape of popular music. The Best Pop Artist category features an impressive lineup including Grande, Charli XCX, Justin Bieber, Lorde, Miley Cyrus, Sabrina Carpenter, and Tate McRae.
With Gaga and Mars poised for a potentially historic night and the a fierce competition across every category, the stage is set for a memorable VMA ceremony. For now, the spotlight is firmly on the dynamic duo, whose combined creative force has captivated audiences and solidified their status as two of the most influential artists of their generation.