The Year of Perry? Quite possibly. Singer Katy Perry notched a leading nine nominations for the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards on Wednesday, reducing eccentric superstar Lady Gaga to just three nods.Perry’s nominations include Best Collaboration, Best Art Direction and Best Editing for her West-assisted “E.T.,” and Best Cinematography for “Teenage Dream.” Katy – who hosted the network’s TV special announcing the nominations – is also up for Best Female Video for “Firework” and Best Pop Video for “Last Friday Night (TGIF).”
Perry is, after all, the biggest pop star on the Planet — on paper anyway — after becoming the first artist to spend an entire year in the Top 10 of Billboard’s Hot 100.
Nominee runner-ups Adele and Kanye West tied for seven nominations. The “Rolling in the Deep” Brit will compete with Perry for year’s best vid. Others in the category include the Beastie Boys for “Make Some Noise” and Bruno Mars for “Grenade.” In fact, Mars was nominated for four Moonman trophies. Other multiple nominees include Beyonce and Eminem. Rappers Wiz Khalifa, Tyler the Creator, and Big Sean will face off in the Best New Artist category.
Lady Gaga was the big winner at last year’s VMA. Clad in her now-infamous meat dress, the Grammy winner took home eight prizes, including Video of the Year for “Bad Romance.” This time around, she notched just three nods; Best Female Video for “Born This Way” and Best Art direction and choreography.
The VMAs will air live from Los Angeles on Aug. 28.