LL COOL J Will Return To Host The 2025 MTV VMAS

LL COOL J is back as the official host of the 2025 MTV VMA's.

On Thursday, August 14, MTV announced the veteran artist and actor will host the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards during its live broadcast from the UBS Arena in New York City. It will be the first time LL COOL J will host the awards show solo. He previously served as a co-host alongside Nicki Minaj and Jack Harlow in 2022. Minaj returned the following year to host the show. LL also returned to the show in 2023, but he took the stage as a performer for the tribute to the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop.

The MTV VMA's will debut on CBS and simulcast on MTV and Paramount+ for the first time. Busta Rhymes, J Balvin, DJ Snake, Ricky Martin, Sabrina Carpenter, and more will hit the stage during the awards show. Busta Buss is set to be honored with the MTV VMA Rock the Bells Visionary Award. The first-ever MTV VMA Rock the Bells Visionary Award will celebrate the New York artist's "boundary-breaking cultural impact and an indomitable musical career," according to a press release. Meanwhile, Martin will be the first artist to receive the Latin Icon Award.

"I KEEP TELLING Y’ALL THAT THE BLESSINGS DON’T SO WE WON’T EVER STOP!!" Busta said after the announcement. "I JUST WANNA THANK EVERYONE AT @mtv HONORING ME WITH THE FIRST TIME EVER ROCK THE BELLS VISIONARY AWARD AT THIS 2025 @vmas."

Catch the 2025 MTV VMA's live from New York on September 7 at 8 p.m.