LOS ANGELES - Pop singer Lady Gaga and her Die with a Smile collaborator Bruno Mars landed at the top of the list of nominees announced on Tuesday for this year's MTV Video Music Awards.
Gaga scored 12 nominations, including artist of the year and best album for Mayhem. Mars received 11 nods for Die with a Smile, his Grammy-winning song with Gaga, and for APT., a duet with K-pop sensation Rose.
READ MORE: Beyonce wins top Grammys prize for first time with 'Cowboy Carter'
Both Mars collaborations will compete for video of the year against Birds of a Feather by Billie Eilish, the Kendrick Lamar diss track Not Like Us, Sabrina Carpenter's Manchild and others.
Superstars Beyonce and Taylor Swift both received nominations for artist of the year. The two women have the most career VMA awards with 30 each. Other nominees in the category are Lamar, Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny, country singer Morgan Wallen and Canadian pop star The Weeknd.
The VMAs began airing on MTV in 1984 and became known for memorable moments such as an onstage kiss between Madonna and Britney Spears and Lady Gaga's appearance in a raw meat dress.
Fans can vote online in 19 of this year's categories. Winners will be announced on Sept 7 at a ceremony broadcast live from New York on the CBS network.
ALSO READ: Taylor Swift, Tyla triumph at MTV Europe Music Awards
New categories were added this year for best country video and best pop artist.
The nominees for country video include Think I'm in Love with You by Chris Stapleton, Liar by Jelly Roll and Wallen's Smile.
Carpenter, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, and Tate McRae are among those in the running for pop artist.