Rihanna to receive MTV's lifetime achievement award at the Video Music Awards

Rihanna will receive MTV's lifetime achievement award at the 2016 Video Music Awards (VMA) show, the station has announced. The Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award is regarded as the highest honour in the video music industry, reflecting an artist's impact on poplar culture and the arts in other artistic mediums beyond music.

The eight-time Grammy winner is to be recognised for her 61 million album sales and for her philanthropic endeavours. The pop sensation is founder of the Clara Lionel Foundation, which works to improve health and cultural services in her home of Barbados and beyond.

The 28-year-old is expected to clean up at the prestigious awards night, having scored four nominations for her song "Work" with Canadian rapper Drake, and her collaboration with Calvin Harris on "This is What You Came For."

The Umbrella singer will also perform at the ceremony in New York, Channel News Asia reports.

Rihanna joins an impressive roll call of previous recipients of the vanguard award including Michael Jackson, Beyonce, Madonna, Britney Spears, Guns N Roses and Justin Timberlake.

Last month, MTV announced the nominees for this year's VMAs, which includes Adele, Ariana Grande, Kanye, Drake, Justin Bieber, Calvin Harris, Sia and the Weeknd amongst others.

The 2016 MTV VMAs will air live from New York's Madison Square Garden on Sunday, August 28 at 9 p.m. ET.