Taylor Swift will not be attending the 2025 MTV VMAs, despite being nominated for Artist of the Year. The pop megastar, who secured seven VMAs in 2024, has decided not to grace the awards show with her presence. This year’s VMAs are set to air live from New York’s UBS Arena on Sunday, September 7th. Swift, who is up for the coveted Artist of the Year award, is in the running alongside other music heavyweights like Beyoncé, Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, The Weeknd, and Morgan Wallen.
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In the 2024 edition of the VMAs, Taylor Swift walked away with an impressive seven trophies. Notably, her single “Fortnight,” featuring Post Malone, clinched prestigious awards such as Video of the Year, Song of the Summer, Best Collaboration, Best Editing, and Best Direction. She also bagged awards for Artist of the Year and Best Pop Artist. These wins saw her tied for the most overall wins and crowned as the most awarded solo artist during the event.
While the reason behind Taylor Swift’s absence from this year’s VMAs remains unclear, her fiancée Travis Kelce will be occupied with his football duties. Kelce is slated to play his first game of the 2025-26 NFL season against the Los Angeles Chargers on September 5 in Brazil. Hosting this year’s VMAs will be LL Cool J, who will be leading the ceremony solo after previously sharing hosting duties back in 2022. LL Cool J, who has a rich history with the awards show, will be taking the stage in a hosting capacity for the second time, having previously hosted along with Jack Harlow and Nicki Minaj.
The 2025 MTV VMAs will feature several exciting performances and special honorees, making it a highly anticipated event. LL Cool J, who has been nominated for Best Hip-Hop category with his track “Murdergram Deaux” featuring Eminem from his 2024 album ‘The Force,’ will also add to the star-studded lineup. The awards show will be aired live on CBS and MTV, and will also be available for streaming on Paramount+.
Taylor Swift’s decision to skip the VMAs this year may come as a disappointment to fans eagerly awaiting her presence, but with LL Cool J set to host the event and a lineup of electrifying performances, the 2025 MTV VMAs promise to be an unforgettable night of music and celebration. Stay tuned for more updates and surprises as the event draws closer.