MTV Video Music Awards veterans Justin Bieber and Megan Thee Stallion are the top nominees at the ceremony’s long-awaited return to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
The nominations for the Sept. 12 awards show were unveiled Wednesday, with Bieber leading all performers as a finalist in seven categories, including artist of the year and video of the year for his appearance in DJ Khaled’s “Popstar.”
Megan Thee Stallion’s six nominations were a close second and included nods for artist of the year and video of the year for her “WAP” collaboration with Cardi B.
Seven artists, meanwhile, earned five nominations each, including Olivia Rodrigo, whose chart-topping debut album “Sour” helped propel her to her first-ever VMA nods. Rodrigo, 18, is a finalist for artist of the year as well, as are Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Doja Cat.