2019 is the year of Missy Elliott: The rap icon became the first female rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame earlier this year and she will also earn the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at Monday’s MTV Video Music Awards.
Elliott, who has released colorful, eccentric and groundbreaking music videos throughout her career, will receive the lifetime achievement honor at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. It’s the first time MTV have held its annual awards show in New Jersey.
Elliott will also perform live during the show, which kicks off at 8 p.m. Taylor Swift, who released her new album, “Lover,” last Friday, will also hit the stage.
Other performers include Lizzo, Normani, Bad Bunny, Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello, H.E.R., J Balvin, Lil Nas X, Rosalia, Big Sean, Ozuna, A$AP Ferg and Jonas Brothers. Megan Thee Stallion, Ava Max and CNCO will perform during the pre-show.
Swift tied with Ariana Grande as the most nominated act at the VMAs, including bids for video of the year. Swift’s gay pride anthem, “You Need to Calm Down,” and Grande’s breezy hit about her breakups, “thank u, next,” are nominated for the top prize alongside Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy,” Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Old Town Road,” 21 Savage and J. Cole’s “A Lot,” and Jonas Brothers’ “Sucker.”
Grande is also up for artist of the year, competing with Cardi B, Shawn Mendes, Halsey, Jonas Brothers and Eilish, whose song “Bad Guy” recently displaced “Old Town Road” from the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s Oscar- and Grammy-winning hit “Shallow” is competing in two categories: song of the year and best collaboration. Boy band BTS earned four nominations, including a bid in the new best K-pop category.
And late rapper Nipsey Hussle, who posthumously won best male hip-hop artist and the Humanitarian Award at the BET Awards in June, picked up a nomination for best hip-hop for “Higher,” his song and video with DJ Khaled and John Legend.
Comedian and actor Sebastian Maniscalco will host the VMAs.q
