Lady Gaga Dominates 2025 MTV VMAs; Ariana Grande and Rosé Also Take Top Awards
— Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, and Rosé led a historic night at the 2025 MTV VMAs, celebrating global music and unforgettable performances.
The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards lit up UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, on September 7, marking the first-ever broadcast on CBS and Paramount+. Hosted by LL Cool J, the night blended iconic performances with breakthrough wins, putting the spotlight on both global superstars and rising artists.
Big Winners of the Night
- Artist of the Year: Lady Gaga
- Video of the Year: Ariana Grande – Brighter Days Ahead
- Song of the Year: Rosé & Bruno Mars – APT.
- Best New Artist: Alex Warren
- Best Pop Artist: Sabrina Carpenter
- Best Album: Sabrina Carpenter – Short n' Sweet
- Best Collaboration: Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – Die With a Smile
Lady Gaga claimed four Moon Persons, including technical wins like Best Direction (Abracadabra) and Best Art Direction, underscoring her artistry behind the camera. Ariana Grande’s Brighter Days Ahead secured both Video of the Year and Best Long Form Video, while Rosé made history as the first K-pop soloist to win Song of the Year.
Lifetime Honors & Special Recognitions
- Video Vanguard Award: Mariah Carey
- Latin Icon Award: Ricky Martin (first-ever recipient)
- Rock the Bells Visionary Award: Busta Rhymes (inaugural honoree)
Each honoree delivered memorable sets: Carey with a career-spanning medley, Ricky Martin with a Latin showcase, and Busta Rhymes with a fiery homage to hip-hop.
Category Highlights
- Best Hip-Hop: Doechii – Anxiety
- Best R&B: Mariah Carey – Type Dangerous
- Best K-Pop: Lisa feat. Doja Cat & RAYE – Born Again
- Best Afrobeats: Tyla – Push 2 Start
- Best Country: Megan Moroney – Am I Okay?
- Best Alternative: Sombr – Back to Friends
- Best Group: BLACKPINK
- Song of the Summer: Tate McRae – Just Keep Watching
Performance & Cultural Moments
Performances defined the night: Lady Gaga’s theatrical Abracadabra, Yungblud’s heartfelt tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, and dynamic sets from Doja Cat, Katseye, and Conan Gray. The show celebrated the global scope of music, with standout moments from K-pop, Afrobeats, and Latin icons, reinforcing the VMAs’ reputation as a cultural barometer.
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