U.S. pop star Beyonce, who just ended a U.S. tour with rapper husband Jay Z, will receive a special award and perform at the MTV Video Music Awards this month, the cable TV network said Thursday.

    Beyonce, who received eight nominations, will be awarded the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the show, one of the industry’s top ceremonies that will be aired live from California on Aug. 24.

    “As a performer, Beyonce has delivered some of the most memorable performances in VMA history,” MTV said in a statement.

    Beyonce, 32, earned nominations for best video and best collaboration with Jay Z for her hit “Drunk in Love,” and will compete for Video of the Year against Australian rapper Iggy Azalea.

    Azalea and Rita Ora will perform their hit “Black Widow.” The song is currently sitting at No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100, and has been rising in the past few weeks.

    Azalea and Ora are the newest addition to the long list of big acts who are headed to the VMAs to give fans a memorable evening: Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, R&B singer Usher and Australian rock group 5 Seconds of Summer are also set to perform at the awards show.

    The Video Music Awards began in 1984 and helped propel the cable channel, now owned by Viacom Inc, as a player in the entertainment industry.

    Singer Miley Cyrus shocked audiences at last year’s awards show in New York with her raunchy performance with Robin Thicke of his hit “Blurred Lines,” which dominated headlines.

    (SD-Agencies)