Hip-hop star Missy Elliott is leading the pack of nominees for the 2003 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS (VMA), announced today (24JUL03).

The GOSSIP FOLKS rapper has an incredible eight nominations for her WORK IT video, including one for Video of the Year.

Close behind Missy is pop hunk Justin Timberlake, who has garnered seven nominations for his ROCK YOUR BODY and CRY ME A RIVER promos.

An unusual big-hitter in this years' list is country star Johnny Cash, whose 'haunting' video for track Hurt has picked up six nominations.

Cash says in a statement, "I am overwhelmed by this great honour. I thank you all for thinking of me. It's been 48 years since I cut my first record and it's nice that people are still digging them up."

Other notable inclusions in this year's nominations include hip-hop's latest star 50 CENT, raunchy singer Christina Aguilera and Eminem.

Aguilera along with British band Coldplay have been confirmed as the first performers for the awards ceremony on 28 August (03).

The show will be broadcast live on MTV and be hosted by comedian and actor Chris Rock.

The complete list of nominees is:

Video Of The Year: 50 CENT, "IN DA CLUB", EMINEM, "Lose Yourself", JOHNNY CASH, "HURT", JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, "CRY ME A RIVER", MISSY "MISDEMEANOR" ELLIOTT, "WORK IT"

Best Male Video: 50 CENT, "IN DA CLUB", EMINEM, "LOSE YOURSELF", JOHN MAYER, "YOUR BODY IS A WONDERLAND", JOHNNY CASH, "HURT", JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, "CRY ME A RIVER"

Best Female Video: Avril Lavigne, "I'M WITH YOU", Beyonce F/ Jay-Z, "CRAZY IN LOVE", CHRISTINA AGUILERA, "DIRRTY", Jennifer Lopez, "I'M GLAD", MISSY "MISDEMEANOR" ELLIOTT, "WORK IT"

Best New Artist In A Video: 50 CENT, "IN DA CLUB", All-American Rejects, "SWING, SWING", EVANESCENCE F/ PAUL MCCOY, "BRING ME TO LIFE", Kelly Clarkson, "Miss Independent", Sean Paul, "GET BUSY", Simple Plan, "ADDICTED"

Breakthrough Video: COLDPLAY, "The Scientist", Floetry, "FLOETIC", Kenna, "FREETIME", Queens Of The Stone Age, "NO ONE KNOWS", SUM 41, "THE HELL SONG"

Best Group Video: B2K F/ P. DIDDY, "BUMP, BUMP, BUMP", COLDPLAY, "THE SCIENTIST", Good Charlotte, "LIFESTYLES OF THE RICH + FAMOUS", The Donnas, "TAKE IT OFF", THE White Stripes, "SEVEN NATION ARMY"

Best Rap Video: 2 PAC F/ Nas, "THUGZ MANSION", 50 CENT, "IN DA CLUB", EMINEM, "LOSE YOURSELF", LUDACRIS F/ Mystikal, "MOVE B***H", NAS, "I CAN"

Best R+B Video: Aaliyah, "MISS YOU", Ashanti, "ROCK WIT U (AWWW BABY)", BEYONCE F/ JAY-Z, "Crazy In Love", Nelly F/ Kelly Rowland, "DILEMMA", R. KELLY, "IGNITION REMIX"

Best Hip-Hop Video: BUSTA RHYMES F/ Mariah Carey, "I KNOW WHAT YOU WANT", JAY-Z F/ BEYONCE, "'03 BONNIE + CLYDE", MISSY "MISDEMEANOR" ELLIOTT, "WORK IT", NELLY, "HOT IN HERRE", SNOOP DOGG F/ PHARRELL + UNCLE CHARLIE WILSON, "BEAUTIFUL"

Best Dance Video: CHRISTINA AGUILERA, "DIRRTY", JENNIFER LOPEZ, "I'M GLAD", JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, "ROCK YOUR BODY", Mya, "YOUR LOVE IS LIKE...WO", SEAN PAUL, "GET BUSY"

Best Rock Video: EVANESCENCE F/ PAUL MCCOY, "BRING ME TO LIFE", GOOD CHARLOTTE, "LIFESTYLES OF THE RICH + FAMOUS", Linkin Park, "SOMEWHERE I BELONG", Metallica, "ST. ANGER", THE WHITE STRIPES, "SEVEN NATION ARMY"

Best Pop Video: AVRIL LAVIGNE, "SK8ER BOI", CHRISTINA AGUILERA, "DIRRTY", JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, "CRY ME A RIVER",

KELLY CLARKSON, "MISS INDEPENDENT", No Doubt, "UNDERNEATH IT ALL"

Best Video From A Film: BRITNEY SPEARS F/ PHARRELL OF N.E.R.D., "BOYS (CO-ED REMIX)" ("Austin Powers in Goldmember"), EMINEM, "LOSE YOURSELF" ("8 MILE"), JC CHASEZ, "BLOWING ME UP (WITH HER LOVE)" ("DRUMLINE"),

Madonna, "Die Another Day"

24/07/2003 17:07