Madonna Leads VMA Nominations, Surpassing Taylor Swift

Madonna has earned the most nominations for the upcoming MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), receiving 11 nods and narrowly surpassing Taylor Swift, who garnered nine nominations. The nominations were announced Tuesday morning.

Both artists are nominated for Video of the Year. Madonna's "Confessions II - The Film" and Swift's "The Fate of Ophelia" will compete in the category. Other nominees for Video of the Year include Ariana Grande's "Hate That I Love You," Sabrina Carpenter's "Tears," Bruno Mars's "I Just Might," and "Storm" by GENER8ION, featuring Yung Lean.

This year marks Madonna's first VMAs nomination surge in recent memory, following the release of her album "Confessions II" on June 5. The album is a follow-up to her 2005 release, "Confessions on a Dance Floor."

Swift and Beyoncé currently hold the record for the most VMA wins, each with 30 awards. With Beyoncé not nominated this year, Swift has the opportunity to break the tie if she wins any award. Madonna, who has won 19 VMAs throughout her career, would need to win in all 11 of her nominated categories to equal the current record.

Grande and Carpenter are tied for third place with seven nominations each. PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson, and Bruno Mars each received five nominations.

The Artist of the Year category features Madonna, Swift, Grande, Carpenter, Mars, and country singer Morgan Wallen.

"Confessions II (The Film)" is also nominated for Dance Video of the Year, competing against Harry Styles's "Aperture," Lady Gaga's "Runway," Doechii's "New Religion" by Bebe Rexha and Faithless, Slayyyter's "Dance...", PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson's "Stateside," and Tate McRae's "Nobody's Girl."

The VMAs are scheduled to take place on September 27 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The ceremony will be broadcast live on CBS at 7:30 p.m. EST.

Madonna, 68, has a history of memorable VMA performances, including her 1984 debut and her 2003 kiss with Britney Spears. Her recent album promotion included a viral moment where she named John F. Kennedy Jr. as one of her "best lovers."