Rihanna to perform, receive top honor at MTV Video Music Awards

Rihanna fans seething that the singer didn’t make it into the video of the year race at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards should fret not: The singer is set to get the night’s highest honor.

MTV announced Thursday that the pop diva will be this year’s recipient of the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. Rihanna is also expected to perform.

She joins a list of superstar acts who have received the lifetime achievement honor, including Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Madonna, Beastie Boys, U2, George Michael and Janet Jackson. The award was renamed in honor of Janet’s late brother Michael in 1991. Last year Kanye West received the honor.

Rihanna will be feted for her “decade-long impact on music, pop culture, fashion, film and philanthropy.”

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Since her 2005 debut, Rihanna has become one of the biggest forces in pop music.

She’s sold more than 61 million albums and 215 million tracks, making her the best-selling digital artist of all time, and is youngest solo artist to score 14 No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100. And her oft-provocative music videos, which the VMAs celebrate, have made her the most watched artist on Vevo/YouTube.

Rihanna is up for four VMA’s this year, including best female video for her smash “Work.”

The 2016 “MTV Video Music Awards” will air from New York’s Madison Square Garden on Aug. 28 at 9 p.m. Eastern/Pacific time.

For more music news follow me on Twitter:@GerrickKennedy

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