Ariana Grande’s career continues to reach new heights of recognition. The singer has been nominated in 10 categories at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), making her one of the most nominated artists of the year, alongside Taylor Swift.
These nominations reflect the massive impact of her fifth studio album, thank u, next, and its standout music videos, such as “7 rings,” “thank u, next,” and “break up with your girlfriend, i’m bored.”
Key Nominations
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
- 21 Savage (ft. J. Cole) — “A Lot”
- Ariana Grande — “Thank U, Next”
- Billie Eilish — “Bad Guy”
- Jonas Brothers — “Sucker”
- Lil Nas X (ft. Billy Ray Cyrus) — “Old Town Road (Remix)”
- Taylor Swift — “You Need to Calm Down”
SONG OF THE YEAR
- Ariana Grande — “Thank U, Next”
- Drake — “In My Feelings”
- Jonas Brothers — “Sucker”
- Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper — “Shallow”
- Lil Nas X (ft. Billy Ray Cyrus) — “Old Town Road (Remix)”
- Taylor Swift — “You Need to Calm Down”
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Ariana Grande
- Billie Eilish
- Cardi B
- Halsey
- Jonas Brothers
- Shawn Mendes
BEST POP VIDEO
- 5 Seconds of Summer — “Easier”
- Ariana Grande — “Thank U, Next”
- Billie Eilish — “Bad Guy”
- Cardi B & Bruno Mars — “Please Me”
- Khalid — “Talk”
- Jonas Brothers — “Sucker”
- Taylor Swift — “You Need to Calm Down”
BEST HIP-HOP VIDEO
- 2 Chainz (ft. Ariana Grande) — “Rule the World”
- 21 Savage (ft. J. Cole) — “A Lot”
- Cardi B — “Money”
- DJ Khaled (ft. Nipsey Hussle & John Legend) — “Higher”
- Lil Nas X (ft. Billy Ray Cyrus) — “Old Town Road (Remix)”
- Travis Scott (ft. Drake) — “Sicko Mode”
Technical & Creative Categories
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
- Ariana Grande — “God Is a Woman” (Visual effects: Fabrice Lagayette, Kristina Prilukova, Rebecca Rice)
- Billie Eilish — “When the Party’s Over”
- DJ Khaled (ft. SZA) — “Just Us”
- FKA Twigs — “Cellophane”
- Taylor Swift (ft. Brendon Urie) — “Me!”
BEST DIRECTION
- Ariana Grande — “Thank U, Next” (Director: Hannah Lux Davis)
- Billie Eilish — “Bad Guy”
- FKA Twigs — “Cellophane”
- Lil Nas X — “Old Town Road (Remix)”
- LSD — “No New Friends”
- Taylor Swift — “You Need to Calm Down”
BEST ART DIRECTION
- Ariana Grande — “7 Rings” (Art direction: John Richoux)
- BTS (ft. Halsey) — “Boy with Luv”
- Kanye West & Lil Pump — “I Love It”
- Lil Nas X — “Old Town Road (Remix)”
- Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello — “Señorita”
- Taylor Swift — “You Need to Calm Down”
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
- Anderson .Paak (ft. Kendrick Lamar) — “Tints”
- Ariana Grande — “Thank U, Next” (Cinematography: Christopher Probst)
- Billie Eilish — “Hostage”
- Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello — “Señorita”
- Solange — “Almeda”
- Taylor Swift — “Me!”
BEST EDITING
- Ariana Grande — “7 Rings” (Editing: Hannah Lux Davis, Taylor Walsh)
- Billie Eilish — “Bad Guy”
- Lil Nas X — “Old Town Road (Remix)”
- Solange — “Almeda”
- Taylor Swift — “You Need to Calm Down”
The music video for “thank u, next”, which recreates iconic scenes from films like Mean Girls and Legally Blonde, was especially praised by critics and audiences, becoming a cultural phenomenon and one of the most-watched videos on YouTube within 24 hours.
Fan Reaction
Social media quickly exploded with messages of support for the artist, widely seen as a frontrunner in several categories. Many fans consider these nominations well-deserved recognition for a year filled with major releases, visual innovation, and personal growth.
The 2019 VMAs will take place on August 26 at the Prudential Center in New Jersey, celebrating the biggest names in music and pop culture. Voting is open until August 15, click here.
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