After a two year hiatus, 2022 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) will paint the city of Newark pink as it returns to celebrate the biggest names in music on Sunday, August 28th at 8PM ET/PT with show-stopping surprises, epic performances and a fan-filled audience LIVE from New Jersey’s famed Prudential Center and I’ll be there! If you’re lucky enough to snag a ticket, you might just rub elbows with performers like Snoop Doog, Eminem, Jack Harlow, J Balvin, and Lizzo. You know the fan votes count for the VMAs and this year’s nominees will have you wearing out that keyboard as you can vote up to 10 times a day for your faves like Best New Artist nominees Baby Keem, Latto, and Seventeen; Song of the Summer nominees Beyonce (“Break My Soul”), Doja Cat (“Vegas”), Future featuring Drake and Tems (“Wait 4 U”), Jack Harlow (“First Class”), Latto & Mariah Carey feat. DJ Khaled (“Big Energy” remix) and more. Dollings, who do you have for Album of the Year? I mean Adele (30), Billie Eilish (Happier Than Ever), Drake (Certified Lover Boy), Harry Styles (Harry’s House) or Bad Bunny (Un Verano Sin Ti). Not to be outdone, The City Girls and Silk Sonic are both nominated in the Best Group category. Caresha pleeease! I looooove a good City Girl twerk sesh but Bruno Mars’ Selva Rey rum and Silk Sonic’s “Leave The Door Open” is a good night with bae.
The night’s most coveted honor will go to international superstar Nicki Minaj as she receives the 2022 Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. This merit is given to recording artists and music video directors for their outstanding contributions and profound impact on music video and popular culture. Previous winners include Madonna, Rihanna, Beyoncé, and Janet Jackson. Not only is Minaj slated to perform and host, she is also nominated in the Best Hip Hop category for “Do We Have A Problem” featuring Lil Baby and Song of the Summer for her latest hit “Super Freaky Girl” – which is currently the #1 song in the country and most anticipated music video drop since, well, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”.
Lil Nax X, Kendrick Lamar, and Jack Harlow are this year’s top nominees with seven nominations each. Doja Cat comes in hot as the top nominated female artist along with Harry Styles who both have six nominations. Other nominees include Chlöe Bailey, Ed Shereen, and Elton John.
“We are thrilled to be back in New Jersey for this year’s VMAs live from Prudential Center,” said Bruce Gillmer, President of Music, Music Talent, Programming & Events, Paramount, and Chief Content Officer, Music, Paramount+. “Our 2019 show in Newark was undoubtedly one of our biggest and most successful shows yet and we’re excited to bring back the incredible fan energy for one of music’s most anticipated and iconic nights.”
The ceremony will air across MTV’s global footprint of linear and digital platforms in 170+ countries, reaching 422 million households in nearly 30 different languages. For the third consecutive year, the “VMAs” will simulcast on The CW Network, making the show available to an expanded broadcast audience, in addition to BET, BET Her, CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV2, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, Pop, TVLand and VH1.
Don’t forget to tune in to the pre-show where Dove Cameron and Yung Gravy will be rocking the red carpet and Saucy Santana will be serving Booty everywhere, and I’m here for it. Tune in early and you might catch a glimpse of The Derek Doll chatting up your fav artists and personalities for The Newark Times.
Stay up to date with @thederekdoll #PrinceDerekDoll #DOLLMAs for up to date pics and clips from the Red Carpet; @TheNewarkTimes as your personal VMA source; and follow @MTV and @VMAs on social to keep up with all-things #VMAs. Until then, throw it back to the pre-Rona Prince Derek Doll experience at the 2019 VMAS here.
Feature Photo Credit: Robert Ector / Courtesy Nick Minaj Twitter
