Madonna, the queen of pop, is making a triumphant return to reclaim her throne. This year’s MTV Video Music Awards nominations have placed her at the top of the list for the third time in her career, surpassing even Taylor Swift. With a total of 11 nominations for the upcoming ceremony, Madonna’s acclaimed album “Confessions II” and its corresponding film have garnered recognition in categories such as artist and video of the year.
Outshining Taylor Swift, who holds the record for the most solo artist wins in VMA history, Madonna’s nominations stand above with Taylor Swift’s nine nods for her album “The Life of a Showgirl” and the music video “The Fate of Ophelia.” Following closely behind Swift are Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana Grande, each receiving seven nominations.
This isn’t Madonna’s first time leading the VMAs nominations; she previously held the spotlight in 1990 and 1998 with her “Vogue” and “Ray of Light” eras. Notably, her iconic 1984 performance at the inaugural VMAs, where she provocatively sang “Like a Virgin” while wearing a wedding dress and a “Boy Toy” belt buckle, remains a defining moment in cable television history.
Among Madonna’s nominations are video of the year, artist of the year, and song and collaboration of the year for “Bring Your Love,” a track featuring fellow nominee Sabrina Carpenter. In the highly anticipated video of the year category, “Confessions” will compete against Swift’s “Ophelia,” Grande’s “Hate That I Made You Love Me,” Carpenter’s “Tears,” Bruno Mars’s “I Just Might,” and Gener8ion and Yung Lean’s “Storm.”
For 13 categories this year, the public has the opportunity to vote for their favorites. The winners will be revealed during the live broadcast of the ceremony on September 27, airing on CBS, MTV, and streaming on Paramount+.