The show airs live coast-to-coast on September 7th
Entertainment icon and Grammy and VMA Award-winner LL Cool J will host the 2025 MTV VMAs live coast-to-coast from New York’s UBS Arena Sunday, September 7th at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT on the CBS Television Network, simulcast on MTV and streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and hip-hop trailblazer will take the VMAs reins solo for the first time, after previously serving as co-emcee in 2022 with Nicki Minaj and Jack Harlow.
He took home his first Moon Person in 1991 for Best Rap and was the first rapper to receive the Video Vanguard Award in 1997.
Other milestone moments on the VMAs stage include a show-stopping celebration for Def Jam Recordings’ 40th anniversary with surprise guest Public Enemy in 2024 and celebrating hip-hop turning 50 with an all-star tribute in 2023.
This year, his single “Murdergram Deaux” featuring Eminem is nominated for Best Hip-Hop. The song was off his 2024 critically acclaimed album The Force.
Additional performers, presenters and special guests to be revealed in the coming weeks.
Lady Gaga leads this year’s nominees with 12, looking to add to her 18 VMAs wins with nominations in Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Best Album and more. This marks the third time Gaga has led nominations, previously in 2010 with 13 nods) and 2020, where she tied with nine nods. Other top contenders include Bruno Mars with 11, Kendrick Lamar with ten, Rosé and Sabrina Carpenter with eight each, Ariana Grande and The Weeknd with seven each, Billie Eilish with six, Charli XCX with five, and Bad Bunny, Doechii, Ed Sheeran, Jelly Roll, Miley Cyrus and Tate McRae with four apiece.
