Kirkland has been nominated for two BET Awards, one MTV Award, one MTV Asia Award and five Teen Choice Awards (two of which she won). At the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards she unexpectedly came on stage with Jay-Z and Alicia Keys as they were performing Empire State of Mind. It was during the last verse of the song that Kirkland left her seat in the audience, came onstage and started bobbing her head to the beat. Jay-Z, though surprised, continued to perform. Just prior to this, Beyoncé was seen trying to prevent Kirkland from going on stage, to no avail.