What you need to know for the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards

Considering all that’s gone down in VMAs history – as well as this year’s epic performer lineup- that seems like good advice to follow. “It’s ridiculous in a lot of ways, high-school gossip amplified to feed the public’s hunger for drama”, the Guardian’s Maura Johnston wrote. Not only will she host, she is also scheduled to give a space-themed performance.

Kendrick Lamar has the most nominations this year, including video of the year for “Humble” and artist of the year. This year’s lineup is an impressive power-punch of talent, with performances by Kendrick Lamar, Fifth Harmony, Miley Cyrus, Lorde, The Weeknd, Ed Sheeran, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Shawn Mendes and a special collaboration between DNCE and Rod Stewart.

Fans will have to wait until the VMAs air live on August 27 to find out who takes home the big awards, though there is a famous face who already knows they’ll be going home with a moon person. And let’s not forget to mention: The ceremony marks the first VMAs without gender-specific awards, meaning males and females will be competing against one another in each award category. “We’ve had our differences but I just continue to say, ‘God bless her on her journey'”.

“MTV has requested service member participation for this year’s VMAs”, a Pentagon spokesperson confirmed to CNN. Nominees include: “Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)” off the Hamilton Mixtape and Shailene Woodley’s protest anthem with Taboo, “Stand Up/ Stand N Rock #NoDAPL”.

Whereas The Weeknd’s Reminder has earned him nominations for the Artist of the Year, as well as Video of the Year, Best Direction, Best Editing, and Best Art Direction category.

Read the Department Of Defense’s statement in full below.

The invitation comes almost a month after President Trump first announced the ban in a series of a tweets on July 26, in which he stated that the U.S. Government “will not accept or allow” transgender people to serve “in any capacity” in the military.

Each year, the MTV VMAs, which began in 1984, honor the top music videos from June 25, 2016, to June 23, 2017.

Where is it: The Forum in Inglewood, California.