Carly Rae Jepsen Has To 'Pinch' Herself About VMA Nomination - MTV.com

Pinch her, maybe?

Carly Rae Jepsen is up for her first Moonman this year during the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards, and she still isn't used to the fact she's been nominated for Best New Artist. MTV News caught up with the 26-year-old Canadian pop star while she was gearing up for Thursday's award show, and she said that the nomination is just physical proof of how much her life has changed in the past year.

"I have to pinch myself. I mean, a year ago I was touring Canada in a soccer mom van, and all of the sudden, my life's just taken off in a completely different direction," she said. "Moments like that just let it really sink in. It's crazy."

Just because she's earned herself a nomination doesn't mean the hard part of the VMAs is over. Jepsen has some pretty stiff competition in the Best New Artist category, which will be announced when the Video Music Awards air on MTV on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Also up for the Moonman are Frank Ocean for "Swim Good," One Direction for "What Makes You Beautiful," The Wanted for "Glad You Came" and Fun. featuring Janelle Monae for "We Are Young."

"Even to be listed among those names is honestly just crazy to me. I'm a big fan of all of them," Jepsen said.

This is Jepsen's first Video Music Award nomination, and it's a pretty big deal for the pop star. She first rose to fame in 2007 when she placed third on the fifth season of "Canadian Idol," but it wasn't until she released "Call Me Maybe" a year ago that she really became a worldwide sensation. Jepsen is gearing up to go on tour, opening for Justin Bieber, starting September 29 (fellow nominees The Wanted will also be opening), but she still saved time for a mini freak-out when she found out she was up for a Moonman.

"When I found out, I think I was on tour somewhere, on the bus with the boys, and I think I screamed it to them, and we all did a little dance party victory on the bus," Jepsen told us.

Though the VMAs start at 8 p.m. ET/PT, we'll likely see Jepsen first during the pre-show with Demi Lovato at 7 p.m. We're dying to see what she wears for her first trip to the MTV Video Music Awards!

The 2012 MTV Video Music Awards are set to go live from Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET/PT. But before it all goes down, don't miss our "Jersey Shore" special "Gym, Tan, Look Back" at 6 p.m. and our pre-show with Demi Lovato at 7 p.m.! And head over to VMA.MTV.com to vote on Best New Artist and Most Share-Worthy Video!