Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter Shine at the 2025 MTV VMAs
The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards were held at New York’s UBS Arena, and while the night felt a little more muted than in past years, it still delivered some unforgettable moments. The spotlight was firmly on female artists, with Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, and Sabrina Carpenter dominating the winners’ list and delivering performances and speeches that had people talking long after the show ended.
Lady Gaga went into the evening as the most-nominated artist with twelve nods, and she certainly didn’t disappoint. She walked away with four awards, including the coveted Artist of the Year. In her acceptance speech, she thanked her fiancé Michael Polansky and her “Little Monsters,” telling the audience that being an artist is about connecting souls across the world. But Gaga didn’t linger long—after collecting her trophy, she dashed across the city to perform at Madison Square Garden, where cameras followed her to catch live renditions of Abracadabra and The Dead Dance . Both songs are part of her Mayhem project, with Tim Burton directing the gothic video for The Dead Dance . Her win now places her with 22 VMAs in total, ranking behind only Taylor Swift and Beyoncé.
Also Read:Ariana Grande was another huge winner, scooping up three awards, including Video of the Year for Brighter Days Ahead . In her speech, she spoke candidly about healing and the lifelong journey of creating safety in our own lives, encouraging fans not to give up on their personal growth. Sabrina Carpenter also had her big night, winning Album of the Year for Short n’ Sweet and the inaugural Best Pop Artist award. Her performance of Tears was especially powerful, featuring drag queens and trans dancers holding signs with messages of solidarity like “In trans we trust.”
The night wasn’t only about the newer generation of stars. Mariah Carey finally earned her first-ever VMA, taking home Best R&B Song before being honored with the Video Vanguard Award. Introducing her performance was none other than Ariana Grande, who called Carey the queen with an unmatched five-octave range. Carey delivered a medley of her greatest hits, joking with the audience that she didn’t know why it took so long for MTV to recognize her—but she was grateful nonetheless.
There were emotional moments, too. A tribute was paid to Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away in July. His son Jack introduced the performance, and artists like Yungblud, Steven Tyler, and Joe Perry took the stage to deliver classics like Crazy Train and Mama, I’m Coming Home . Yungblud, clearly emotional, closed the performance by declaring, “Ozzy forever.”
The night also had lively performances from Ricky Martin, who reminded fans that he can still live La Vida Loca , and from hip-hop legend Busta Rhymes, who was honored with the Rock The Bells Visionary Award. Other winners included Megan Moroney, who made history as the first-ever Best Country winner, and South African star Tyla, who picked up Best Afrobeats.
Overall, the 2025 VMAs might not have been the most extravagant ceremony, but it was certainly one that celebrated women, honored legacies, and reminded us just how powerful music can be in bringing people together.
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