Madonna Leads VMA Nominees, Taylor Praises Phoebe, Heated Rivalry S2

Madonna and Taylor Swift Lead Packed Field of 2026 MTV VMA Nominees

Madonna leads the 2026 MTV VMA nominations with 11 nods, aiming to tie Beyoncé and Taylor Swift for the most wins in history. Taylor follows closely with nine nominations, including Video of the Year for "The Fate of Ophelia," and just one win would make her the ceremony's most decorated artist.

Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each have seven nominations, while Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress, and Zara Larsson received five. The Video of the Year category features a fierce competition among Madonna, Swift, Grande, Mars, Carpenter, and GENER8ION featuring Yung Lean. This year's ceremony also marks the return of the Best Dance category after a seven-year hiatus, featuring Lady Gaga and Harry Styles. The 2026 VMAs will air live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 27, on CBS and MTV, with streaming available on Paramount+.

Taylor Swift Praises Phoebe Bridgers' 'Lost Weekend' as an "Absolute Triumph"

Taylor Swift took to social media to celebrate Phoebe Bridgers’ birthday, showering praise on the singer-songwriter and her newly released album, Lost Weekend. Calling the 16-track project a gift to listeners, Swift applauded her friend's emotional depth and artistic bravery. "Haven’t been able to stop listening. This album is an absolute triumph in every way," Swift wrote. "To write about grief with such vulnerability and detail, and to trust the listener with this much honesty. Happy bday I love you!!"

The glowing endorsement highlights the enduring friendship between the two artists, who famously collaborated on the vault track "Nothing New" for 2021's Red (Taylor's Version). Beyond their personal bond, Lost Weekend also bridges their musical circles: Bridgers enlisted Swift's longtime producer and frequent collaborator Jack Antonoff to co-write and co-produce on the new LP alongside her trusted production team of Tony Berg and Ethan Gruska.

ICYMI:

• Tori Vega is a “world famous pop star” in the new ‘Victorious’ spin-off, ‘Hollywood Arts.’

• Following her surprise appearance at the eternal sunshine tour on Sunday, Cynthia Erivo has revealed that she plans to attend another one of Ariana Grande’s shows.

'Heated Rivalry' Season 2 Begins Filming Following Wave of New Cast Announcements

Production has officially begun on the second season of Crave’s popular queer hockey drama Heated Rivalry, with a "Day 1" set photo posted on social media. Creator Jacob Tierney and cast members expressed their excitement, while fans speculated about storyline changes after Kaden Connors hinted at a return despite his character's absence from the sequel novel, The Long Game.

Recent casting announcements included Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie as new characters Harris Drover and Troy Barrett, alongside Young Royals star Edvin Ryding, Schitt’s Creek's Emily Hampshire, Canada's Drag Race winner Priyanka, and Black Mirror's Sabrina Jalees, all set to join the expanded ensemble as key characters.

POP FACT: On this day in 1967, The Beatles’ ‘All You Need is Love’ hit No.1.

Sebastian Stan Debunks Rumors of Playing Harvey Dent in 'The Batman: Part II'

Reports claiming Sebastian Stan confirmed his casting as DC villain Harvey Dent in Matt Reeves’ upcoming The Batman: Part II have been debunked following a transcription error by French outlet Le Journal du Dimanche. Social media erupted after the publication initially quoted Stan directly stating, "I play Harvey Dent," during a recent interview. However, industry insiders confirmed the actor was misquoted, prompting the outlet to retract the statement and update its online article to reflect the error, leaving Stan's actual role in the highly anticipated sequel still under wraps. Details about fellow cast members such as Scarlett Johansson, Charles Dance, and Brian Tyree Henry also remain undisclosed, with the project currently filming in Glasgow ahead of its February 18, 2028 theatrical release.

ICYMI:

• YouTube has announced that it will count views from the first frame of a video across all formats, starting on August 24th.

• ‘IT: Welcome to Derry’ has been renewed for Season 2.

• Fontaines D.C. have announced their fifth studio album, ‘Dopamine Chamber.’ Set for release October 16th. 

— Katie Macbeth

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