MTV VMAs 2015: Nicki Minaj to address Meek Mill pregnancy rumours during opening performance?

The MTV Video Music Awards 2015 are set to open with fireworks as rapper Nicki Minaj has been confirmed as the first performer. Always one to steal the show, speculation is rife that the Anaconda star could address rumours she is pregnant with boyfriend Meek Mill's baby.

Minaj, 32, is said to have announced her performance at the awards ceremony, taking place at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles on 30 August, by sharing a photo on Instagram of a small Moonman holding an MTV flag inside of a pregnancy scan with the caption: "Big news coming today." The image, which has now been removed, appeared to allude to the rumours that the Super Bass rapper is expecting her first child with Mill, 28.

The Young Money hip hop star fuelled the pregnancy rumours earlier in August when she referred to her rapper beau as her "baby father" while performing in Burgettstown on her Pinkprint Tour. It will be the second time Minaj has opened the VMAs after putting on a show-stopping performance with her twerking marathon Anaconda at the 2014 awards.

After removing the photo from Instagram, Minaj teased what fans can expect from her not-to-be-missed opener by tweeting: "VMA Rehearsals were fun." Minaj's addition to the performance line-up has come as a surprise given she blasted the awards for not nominating her in the video of the year category. In July 2015, the Starships hitmaker launched a furious Twitter tirade claiming her snub was due to her race and curvaceous body shape.

She tweeted: "If I was a different "kind" of artist, Anaconda would be nominated for best choreo and vid of the year as well. When the "other" girls drop a video that breaks records and impacts culture they get that nomination."

In the midst of her rant, Bad Blood singer Taylor Swift believed Minaj's comments were directed at her and hit back at the rapper, writing: "I've done nothing but love & support you. It's unlike you to pit women against each other. Maybe one of the men took your slot. If I win, please come up with me!! You're invited to any stage I'm ever on." The pop stars later buried the hatchet after Swift, 25, apologised for jumping to conclusions.

Wrecking Ball singer Miley Cyrus will host the awards ceremony with performances coming from Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Demi Lovato, Pharrell Williams and Kanye West, who is the new recipient of the vanguard video award.