Madonna leads the 2026 VMAs with 11 nominations, but the Best New Artist field includes a familiar name: Magnus Ferrell, whose song “Asleep Talking” broke after his father played it on Michelle Obama’s IMO podcast.
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards nominations arrived with Madonna leading the field at 11 nods. But the Best New Artist race draws a different kind of attention: among seven nominees is Magnus Ferrell, son of actor Will Ferrell.
Ferrell’s presence follows the viral spread of his song “Asleep Talking,” boosted when his father played a snippet on Michelle Obama’s IMO podcast. The track sits close to the alternative R&B lane occupied by fellow nominee Malcolm Todd.
The category also includes Orlando indie-pop artist Bella Kay, South Korean boy band CORTIS, British singer Myles Smith, English singer-songwriter Sienna Spiro, and Stella Lefty, the viral “Boston” singer whose father is a multi-billionaire and CEO of Tempus AI.
Geese are not in the Best New Artist group, but the band’s “Taxes” is nominated for Best Alternative. That field also includes Sombr and a collaboration between mgk and Fred Durst.
The 2026 VMAs will broadcast live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sept. 27 on CBS, simulcast on MTV, and stream on Paramount+ in the U.S. Global streaming follows the next day.
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