Beyonce, Lady GaGa, Eminem, Kanye West Lead 2009 MTV Video Music Award Nominees

CHICAGO – Beyonce and Lady GaGa led the way when the nominees were announced this morning for the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards with nine nominations apiece, according to People Magazine. They were both nominated for video of the year and best female video. Other major nominees include Eminem, Kanye West, Drake, and Britney Spears

Lady GaGa will also compete for best new artist, trying to tackle Drake, Kid Cudi, Asher Roth, and 3OH!3, according to Rolling Stone. And, according to Access Hollywood, Britney Spears will compete with a reported seven nominations.

Eminem Photo credit: Getty Images.

According to MTV, other major nominees included Chicago’s own Kanye West and Eminem, who will compete head-to-head in four categories. “Love Lockdown” by Kanye will compete with Em’s “We Made You” for video of the year, best male video, and best hip hop video. “We Made You” will have to beat West’s “Paranoid” for best special effects. Eminem has already won nine Video Music Awards in his career to West’s two.

Beyonce told People, “I’m excited and honored to be tied for most nominated for the VMAs. I’ve been blessed this year to have ‘Single Ladies’ become a video people really connected with and responded to. I’ve spent so much time watching all the great versions people created all around the world. It’s beautiful to feel you touch people and bring a song to life with a video.”

The Video Music Awards will be held on September 13th, 2009 at locations around New York City, including at Radio City Music Hall, and the event will be hosted by Russell Brand (“Forgetting Sarag Marshall”) and broadcast live. Confirmed presenters already include Katy Perry, Ne-Yo, and Chace Crawford (“Gossip Girl”) and confirmed performers include Taylor Swift, Pink, and Green Day.

The full list of nominees will be announced later today.