The MTV Video Music Awards are intent on becoming the most talked about, must-see TV event of the year. The award show just announced that Rihanna and Frank Ocean will be joining the line-up of performers at next Thursday’s live show.
Both of those stars have been buzzing at the top of the news for the entire summer, so this will be a welcome chance for them to put aside all the gossip and innuendo and show the world how they became famous in the first place. Rihanna went on Oprah to tell all that she and Chris Brown still love each other, despite the brutal abuse she suffered by his hands three years ago. And Ocean came out of the closet this summer, eliciting responses ranging from enthusiastic support to harsh mocking.
The award show will be hosted by the hilarious comedian Kevin Hart, who is not one to hold his tongue. So you can expect some biting commentary on many of the big news stories involving the stars who will sitting before him at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
In addition to Rihanna and Ocean, other stars slated to perform on the show include Alicia Keys, Taylor Swift, One Direction and Pink. As for nominations, Rihanna is up for a number of big awards—Video of the Year, Best Female Video, Best Pop Video. Ocean is nominated for Best Male Video and Best New Artist.
Another raft of stars will be presenters on the show, including Wanted, Andy Samberg, Rashida Jones, 2 Chainz, Ke$ha, Miley Cyrus, Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller, and the “Fierce Five,” the U.S. Women’s Olympics Gymnastics Team that won the team gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games.
