Beyonce in her video for ‘Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)’
Photo: Columbia

The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards nominations are in, and the 26th annual show is shaping up to be a battle of female pop and fashion icons: Beyoncé and Lady Gaga lead the way with nine nods apiece and will face off on September 13 at 9 p.m. for coveted Moonmen in categories like Video of the Year and Best Female Video.

"I'm excited and honored to be tied for most nominated for the VMAs," Beyoncé said. "I've been blessed this year to have 'Single Ladies' become a video people really connected with and responded to. I've spent so much time watching all the great versions people created all around the world. It's beautiful to feel you touch people and bring a song to life with a video."

Lady Gaga expressed her gratitude in her own original fashion. "After years of hustle in New York City, where we made our art videos in bars, myself and the Haus of Gaga are honored to receive nine nominations for the 2009 VMAs," she said. "We believe in the immensity and the promise of 'showbiz' and will continue to give it mouth-to-mouth, till its vomiting return. All you need is a camcorder, a flashlight and one truly great idea. Thank you, MTV, for being our video flagship, and for supporting this bunch of inspired kids, who love to get wasted and make art together."

Following closely behind Beyoncé and Gaga is Britney Spears, who nabbed seven nods for her "Womanizer" and "Circus" videos, including in categories like Video of the Year and Best Pop Video. Kanye West, Eminem, Green Day and Coldplay all received four nominations each.

In the Video of the Year category, Beyoncé ("Single Ladies [Put a Ring on It]"), Lady Gaga ("Poker Face") and Britney ("Womanizer") will compete with Eminem ("We Made You") and Kanye West ("Love Lockdown").

Joining Lady Gaga in the Best New Artist category are Drake ("Best I Ever Had"), 3OH!3 ("Don't Trust Me"), Kid Cudi ("Day 'N' Nite") and Asher Roth ("I Love College").

The Best Male Video category pits Eminem ("We Made You") against Ne-Yo ("Miss Independent"), Kanye West ("Love Lockdown"), T.I. and Rihanna ("Live Your Life"), and Jay-Z ("D.O.A.")

Best Female Video nominees are: Lady Gaga ("Poker Face"), Beyoncé ("Single Ladies [Put a Ring on It]"), Katy Perry ("Hot N Cold"), Kelly Clarkson ("My Life Would Suck Without You"), Taylor Swift ("You Belong With Me") and Pink ("So What").

Hosted by Russell Brand for the second year in a row, the VMAs will air live from Radio City Music Hall in New York. Taylor Swift, Pink, Green Day and Muse are already confirmed to perform. Celebrity presenters include Katy Perry, Ne-Yo and Chace Crawford.

The show airs live, exclusively in Canada on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 9 p.m. ET on MuchMusic.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH ALL OF THE VIDEOS NOMINATED FOR 2009 VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS!