LL Cool J to host 2025 VMAs

LOS ANGELES (AP):

LL Cool J has snagged wins, co-hosted and performed atop the MTV Video Music Awards stage. Now, the Grammy-winning rapper-actor-author is going solo to host the 2025 awards ceremony.

He’s retaking the stage, this time without Nicki Minaj and Jack Harlow, with whom he co-hosted in 2022, the VMAs announced Thursday.

He’s also up for the best hip hop award for his single Murdergram Deux featuring Eminem. The single is part of his most recent album, “THE FORCE,” which released in September and was his first album in 11 years.

LL Cool J is a longtime champion of the VMAs, having won his first Moon Person in 1991. He became the first rapper to receive the Video Vanguard Award, in 1997. He also performed in an all-star tribute to hip-hop’s 50th anniversary in 2023 and a celebration for Def Jam Records’ 40th anniversary last year.

Lady Gaga is leading this year’s awards with 12 nominations, including artist of the year. The Mayhem singer was nearly tied with Bruno Mars, who has 11 nods. The pair’s duet, Die with a Smile, is up for four awards, including song of the year.

Gaga’s plethora of nominations dethrones Taylor Swift, who held the top spot for two years. This time around, Swift received one artiste of the year nomination.

The two are accompanied by Bad Bunny, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Morgan Wallen and The Weeknd in that category.

Gaga and Mars are followed by Kendrick Lamar with 10 nominations, ROSÉ and Sabrina Carpenter with eight each, Ariana Grande and The Weeknd with seven each and Billie Eilish with six.

Charli XCX also received love with five nominations for her Brat Summer success Guess, featuring Eilish.

Bad Bunny, Doechii, Ed Sheeran, Jelly Roll, Miley Cyrus and Tate McRae have four nominations each.

Fan voting across the 19 categories is live now on the VMAs website. Voting closes on September 5 at 6 p.m. Eastern, except for the best new artiste category, which will accept votes into the live show. The public can vote up to 10 times a day until voting closes.

The 2025 VMAs will air on September 7 at 8 p.m. Eastern, live from the UBS Arena on New York’s Long Island.