Tate McRae’s 2025 VMA performance earned her a 2026 Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Choreography. The athletic performance, which was unveiled at the July 8 ceremony yesterday, represents a major achievement for the Canadian pop star and is only the second-ever Emmy-recognized VMA performance in the category.The show, choreographed by Robbie Blue, was a fusion of McRae’s hits “Roadster” and “Revolving Door,” with several acrobatic sections performed in a sand pit. The nomination joins the show among other notable productions including the massive Super Bowl halftime show, the TV special Wicked: One Beautiful Night, the 2026 Academy Awards and the hit drag competition series, underscoring the level of recognition.
The historical significance of Emmy nominations
This achievement has special significance in the history of the Emmy Awards. McCrea’s performance became the second Emmy-recognized VMA performance, following Michael Jackson’s iconic medley performance at the 1995 VMAs, and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in the same category in 1996. This rare distinction highlights the exceptional quality and artistry of the choreography.
Tate McRae’s recent commercial and chart success
The Emmy nomination is the latest honor following the huge success of McRae’s third album, So Close to What, which topped the Canadian Album Chart and Billboard 200 chart. The album helped her dominate the charts throughout the year, making her the top artist on the Canadian charts in 2025.
Tate McRae’s energetic MTV VMAs performance became the second VMA performance to be nominated for an Emmy for choreography. Image Source (Tate McCray Instagram)
Her single “Sports Car” proved to be a hit at radio, peaking at No. 9 on the Canadian Billboard Hot 100 and reaching the top 15 on the 2025 year-end Billboard Canadian Hot 100 chart. Earlier this year, the 26-year-old artist further cemented her status as one of the most successful people in the industry when she won the Hot Producer Award at the 2026 Billboard Women in Music Awards in Los Angeles. Current performers.
Robbie Blue’s stature in the choreographic world continues to grow
Nominated choreographer Robbie Blue publicly celebrated the achievement on social media. “This is so unreal!!!. A huge thank you to my team, cast, creative department and everyone who made this happen! We did it!!!” he exclaimed, expressing the importance of recognition for his creative work.As a rising star in the dance world, the 26-year-old choreographer has participated in a number of high-profile projects. Last year, he notably crafted a viral ad featuring Katseye, as well as Doechii’s star-studded performance at the 2025 Grammy Awards. The Grammy performance marked his first professional performance, represented his biggest stage at the time and propelled his career to new heights.Speaking to the publication about his approach to selecting artists, Blue outlined his creative philosophy. “I think the artists who come to me are mostly artists who are willing to push themselves, who really want to dance, who love to dance. For me, the perfect artists are Doechii, Twigs, Tinashe, Tate [McRae]this is someone who is really willing to get into the studio and work really hard,” he said, emphasizing the collaborative commitment required for his most ambitious choreographic visions.