From Gaga to Carpenter: Women Take Center Stage at the 2025 MTV VMAs

The MTV Video Music Awards have always been a spectacle — part concert, part fashion runway, part pop culture circus. The 2025 VMAs, held at UBS Arena in Long Island, proved no different, delivering a glittering mix of show-stopping performances, heartfelt tributes, and unexpected viral moments. By the end of the night, three names stood tall above the rest: Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, and Sabrina Carpenter.

The Red Carpet: High Fashion, Higher Stakes

Before the awards even began, the red carpet set the internet ablaze.

• Lady Gaga, the night’s most-nominated artist, arrived in a sculptural silver creation by Iris van Herpen that looked more like wearable architecture than clothing. Fans compared her to “a futuristic goddess who came to collect her trophies.”
• Ariana Grande kept things classic yet edgy in a black velvet gown with a dramatic hood, channeling Old Hollywood glamour with a modern twist.
• Sabrina Carpenter made waves in a candy-pink corset dress by Mugler, playful and sharp at the same time — a nod to her evolving status as both pop princess and rule-breaker.
• Other standouts included Doja Cat, who stunned in a blood-red feathered look that trended within minutes, and Bruno Mars, who kept it retro with a 1970s-inspired velvet suit, complete with oversized shades.

Lady Gaga: The Reigning Queen

With 12 nominations, Lady Gaga was the frontrunner of the night — and she didn’t disappoint. She claimed Artist of the Year, thanking her fans, collaborators, and even the “chaos of art itself.” In true Gaga fashion, her speech was part performance art, part manifesto.

Then, in an almost cinematic twist, she bolted out of the arena immediately after her win — racing across town to perform at Madison Square Garden. Only Gaga could treat a major award show like a pre-show warm-up.

Ariana Grande: A “Brighter” Triumph

Ariana Grande, fresh off her critically acclaimed album cycle, stole the show with her win for Video of the Year for “Brighter Days Ahead.”

Her acceptance speech quickly went viral when she thanked her “therapists and gay people” — a candid nod to the support system behind her resilience. Fans flooded X (formerly Twitter) with memes and love, calling her words both hilarious and deeply relatable.

Later, she performed a haunting orchestral version of the track, backed by a 40-piece string ensemble. As confetti rained down, social media crowned it “one of the most unforgettable VMA performances in a decade.”

Sabrina Carpenter: Pop’s New Vanguard

But perhaps the true breakout of the night was Sabrina Carpenter. Already enjoying a meteoric rise in 2025, she left the VMAs as a certified superstar.

Carpenter took home Best Pop Artist and Best Album for “Short N’ Sweet.” Her performance of “Tears” was pure theater: she emerged dramatically from a manhole cover before joining drag queens, trans performers, and dancers in a rebellious, joyful celebration of queer identity.

The performance was charged with political undertones. Signs reading “Protect Trans Rights” and “In Trans We Trust” flashed across the stage, instantly making headlines. In her Best Album speech, Carpenter spoke with fire:

“This world can be so full of criticism and discrimination and negativity. So to get to be part of something that can bring light, make you smile, make you dance, and make you feel like the world is your fu**ing oyster — I’m so grateful. Thank you to my queens on stage.”

It was equal parts gratitude and defiance — the exact energy that has made her the pop voice of Gen Z.

Legends & Tributes

The night wasn’t just about the new guard — it honored icons who paved the way.

• Busta Rhymes was celebrated with the first-ever Rock the Bells Visionary Award, his high-energy acceptance speech reminding fans why he’s still one of rap’s most magnetic figures.
• Ricky Martin received the inaugural Latin Icon Award, electrifying the stage with a medley of hits that turned the arena into a dance floor.
• Mariah Carey, dripping in diamonds, accepted the Video Vanguard Award, reflecting on her three decades in music with her signature humor: “I can’t believe they still let me wear this much glitter.”
• The show also paused to honor Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away in July at age 76. YUNGBLUD, Nuno Bettencourt, and Aerosmith legends Steven Tyler and Joe Perry ripped through a thunderous tribute set. Jack Osbourne appeared via video, choking up as he said:

“I know for sure it would make him incredibly happy to see these great musicians carry on his legacy and help inspire the next generation of rockers.”

Social Media Buzz: Viral in Real-Time

From start to finish, the VMAs trended worldwide. Fans couldn’t stop talking about:

• Ariana’s speech — instantly memed and stitched on TikTok.
• Sabrina Carpenter’s unapologetic queer advocacy, hailed as a “Madonna-level pop culture moment.”
• Lady Gaga’s dramatic exit to Madison Square Garden, which fans jokingly called “the most Gaga move ever.”
• A surprise reunion of NSYNC (sans Justin Timberlake), who presented an award and teased a possible tour, sending millennial fans into a frenzy.

A Night of Music, Memory & Momentum

The 2025 MTV VMAs proved that the award show still knows how to reinvent itself. From boundary-pushing performances to heartfelt nods to legends, it was a night that honored both the past and the future of music.

If Lady Gaga confirmed her status as the reigning queen, Ariana Grande solidified her artistry, and Sabrina Carpenter announced herself as the new face of pop rebellion.

One thing’s clear: the VMAs are still music’s wildest night out — and in 2025, it belonged to the women who are rewriting the rules.

Check out the full list of winners:

Video of the Year

• Ariana Grande – ‘Brighter Days Ahead’ (WINNER)
• Billie Eilish – ‘Birds of a Feather’
• Kendrick Lamar – ‘Not Like Us’
• Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – ‘Die With a Smile’
• Rosé & Bruno Mars – ‘Apt.’
• Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Manchild’
• The Weeknd & Playboi Carti – ‘Timeless’

 

Artist of the Year

• Bad Bunny
• Beyoncé
• Kendrick Lamar
• Lady Gaga (WINNER)
• Morgan Wallen
• Taylor Swift
• The Weeknd

Song of the Year

• Alex Warren – ‘Ordinary’
• Billie Eilish – ‘Birds of a Feather’
• Doechii – ‘Anxiety’
• Ed Sheeran – ‘Sapphire’
• Gracie Abrams – ‘I Love You, I’m Sorry’
• Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – ‘Die With a Smile’
• Lorde – ‘What Was That’
• Rosé & Bruno Mars – ‘Apt.’ (WINNER)
• Tate McRae – ‘Sports Car’
• The Weeknd & Playboi Carti – ‘Timeless’

 

Best New Artist

• Alex Warren (WINNER)
• Ella Langley
• Gigi Perez
• Lola Young
• Sombr
• The Marías

Best Pop Artist

• Ariana Grande
• Charli XCX
• Justin Bieber
• Lorde
• Miley Cyrus
• Sabrina Carpenter (WINNER)
• Tate McRae

 

MTV Push Performance of the Year

• Ayra Starr – ‘Last Heartbreak Song’
• Damiano David – ‘Next Summer’
• Dasha – ‘Bye Bye Bye’
• Gigi Perez – ‘Sailor Song’
• Jordan Adetunji – ‘Kehlani’
• Katseye – ‘Touch’ (WINNER)
• Lay Bankz – ‘Graveyard’
• Leon Thomas – ‘Yes It Is’
• Livingston – ‘Shadow’
• Mark Ambor – ‘Belong Together’
• Role Model – ‘Sally, When the Wine Runs Out’
• Shaboozey – ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)’

 

Best Collaboration

• Bailey Zimmerman & Luke Combs – ‘Backup Plan’
• Kendrick Lamar & SZA – ‘Luther’
• Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – ‘Die With a Smile’ (WINNER)
• Post Malone ft. Blake Shelton – ‘Pour Me a Drink’
• Rosé & Bruno Mars – ‘Apt.’
• Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco – ‘Sunset Blvd’

 

Best Pop

• Alex Warren – ‘Ordinary’
• Ariana Grande – ‘Brighter Days Ahead’ (WINNER)
• Ed Sheeran – ‘Sapphire’
• Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – ‘Die With a Smile’
• Rosé & Bruno Mars – ‘Apt.’
• Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Manchild’

 

Best Hip-Hop

• Doechii – ‘Anxiety’ (WINNER)
• Drake – ‘Nokia’
• Eminem ft. Jelly Roll – ‘Somebody Save Me’
• Glorilla ft. Sexyy Red – ‘Whatchu Kno About Me’
• Kendrick Lamar – ‘Not Like Us’
• LL Cool J ft. Eminem – ‘Murdergram Deux’
• Travis Scott – ‘4×4’

 

Best R&B

• Chris Brown – ‘Residuals’
• Leon Thomas & Freddie Gibbs – ‘Mutt (Remix)’
• Mariah Carey – ‘Type Dangerous’ (WINNER)
• PartyNextDoor – ‘No Chill’
• Summer Walker – ‘Heart of a Woman’
• SZA – ‘Drive’
• The Weeknd & Playboi Carti – ‘Timeless’

 

Best Alternative

• Gigi Perez – ‘Sailor Song’
• Imagine Dragons – ‘Wake Up’
• Lola Young – ‘Messy’
• MGK & Jelly Roll – ‘Lonely Road’
• Sombr – ‘Back to Friends’ (WINNER)
• The Marías – ‘Back to Me’

 

Best Rock

• Coldplay – ‘All My Love’ (WINNER)
• Evanescence – ‘Afterlife’
• Green Day – ‘One Eyed Bastard’
• Lenny Kravitz – ‘Honey’
• Linkin Park – ‘The Emptiness Machine’
• Twenty One Pilots – ‘The Contract’

 

Best Latin

• Bad Bunny – ‘Baile Inolvidable’
• J Balvin – ‘Rio’
• Karol G – ‘Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido’
• Peso Pluma – ‘La Patrulla’
• Rauw Alejandro & Romeo Santos – ‘Khé?’
• Shakira – ‘Soltera’ (WINNER)

 

Best K-Pop

• Aespa – Whiplash’
• Jennie – ‘Like Jennie’
• Jimin – ‘Who’  Jisoo – ‘Earthquake’
• Lisa ft. Doja Cat & Raye – ‘Born Again’ (WINNER)
• Stray Kids – ‘Chk Chk Boom’
• Rosé – ‘Toxic Till the End’

 

Best Afrobeats

• Asake & Travis Scott – ‘Active’
• Burna Boy ft. Travis Scott – ‘TaTaTa’
• Moliy, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea – ‘Shake It to the Max (Fly) (Remix)’
• Rema – ‘Baby (Is It A Crime)’
• Tems ft. Asake – ‘Get It Right’
• Tyla – ‘Push 2 Start’ (WINNER)
• Wizkid ft. Brent Faiyaz – ‘Piece of My Heart’

 

Best Country

• Chris Stapleton – ‘Think I’m in Love With You’
• Cody Johnson & Carrie Underwood – ‘I’m Gonna Love You’
• Jelly Roll – ‘Liar’
• Lainey Wilson – ‘4x4xU’
• Megan Moroney – ‘Am I Okay?’ (WINNER)
• Morgan Wallen – ‘Smile’

 

Best Album

• Bad Bunny – ‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos’
• Kendrick Lamar – ‘GNX’
• Lady Gaga – ‘Mayhem’
• Morgan Wallen – ‘I’m the Problem’
• Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Short n’ Sweet’ (WINNER)
• The Weeknd – ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’

 

Best Long Form Video

• Ariana Grande – ‘Brighter Days Ahead’ (WINNER)
• Bad Bunny – ‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos’
• Damiano David – ‘Funny Little Stories’
• Mac Miller – ‘Balloonerism’
• Miley Cyrus – ‘Something Beautiful’
• The Weeknd – ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’

 

Video for Good

• Burna Boy – ‘Higher’
• Charli XCX – ‘Guess’ ft. Billie Eilish (WINNER)
• Doechii – ‘Anxiety’
• Eminem ft. Jelly Roll – ‘Somebody Save Me’
• Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco – ‘Younger and Hotter Than Me’
• Zach Hood ft. Sasha Alex Sloan – ‘Sleepwalking’

 

Best Direction

• Ariana Grande – ‘Brighter Days Ahead’
• Charli XCX – ‘Guess’ ft. Billie Eilish
• Kendrick Lamar – ‘Not Like Us’
• Lady Gaga – ‘Abracadabra’ (WINNER)
• Rosé & Bruno Mars – ‘Apt.’
• Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Manchild’

 

Best Art Direction

• Charli XCX – ‘Guess’ ft. Billie Eilish
• Kendrick Lamar – ‘Not Like Us’
• Lady Gaga – ‘Abracadabra’ (WINNER)
• Lorde – ‘Man of the Year’
• Miley Cyrus – ‘End of the World’
• Rosé & Bruno Mars – ‘Apt.’

 

Best Cinematography

• Ariana Grande – ‘Brighter Days Ahead’
• Ed Sheeran – ‘Sapphire’
• Kendrick Lamar – ‘Not Like Us’ (WINNER)
• Lady Gaga – ‘Abracadabra’
• Miley Cyrus – ‘Easy Lover’
• Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Manchild’

 

Best Editing

• Charli XCX – ‘Guess’ ft. Billie Eilish
• Ed Sheeran – ‘Sapphire’
• Kendrick Lamar – ‘Not Like Us’
• Lady Gaga – ‘Abracadabra’
• Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Manchild’
• Tate McRae – ‘Just Keep Watching’ (WINNER)

 

Best Choreography

• Doechii – ‘Anxiety’ (WINNER)
• FKA twigs – ‘Eusexua’
• Kendrick Lamar – ‘Not Like Us’
• Lady Gaga – ‘Abracadabra’
• Tyla – ‘Push 2 Start’
• Zara Larsson – ‘Pretty Ugly’

 

Best Visual Effects

• Ariana Grande – ‘Brighter Days Ahead’
• Lady Gaga – ‘Abracadabra’
• Rosé & Bruno Mars – ‘Apt.’
• Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Manchild’ (WINNER)
• Tate McRae – ‘Just Keep Watching’
• The Weeknd – ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’

 

Best Group

• aespa
• All Time Low
• Backstreet Boys
• BLACKPINK (WINNER)
• Coldplay
• Evanescence
• Fuerza Regida
• Grupo Frontera
• Imagine Dragons
• Jonas Brothers
• KATSEYE
• My Chemical Romance
• SEVENTEEN
• Stray Kids
• The Marías
• Twenty one pilots

 

Song Of The Summer

• Addison Rae – ‘Headphones On’
• Alex Warren – ‘Ordinary’
• Benson Boone – ‘Mystical Magical’
• BigXthaPlug ft. Bailey Zimmerman – ‘All The Way’
• Chappell Roan – ‘The Subway’
• Demi Lovato – ‘Fast’
• Doja Cat – ‘Jealous Type’
• HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna & REI AMI – ‘Golden’
• Jessie Murph – ‘Blue Strips’
• Justin Bieber – ‘Daisies’
• MOLIY, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea – ‘Shake It To The Max (FLY) (Remix)’
• Morgan Wallen ft. Tate McRae – ‘What I Want’
• Ravyn Lenae ft. Rex Orange County – ‘Love Me Not’
• Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Manchild’
• sombr – ’12 to 12′

Support Dawat Media Center

If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our journalism and sustains our future. Support the Dawat Media Center from as little as $/€10 – it only takes a minute. If you can, please consider supporting us with a regular amount each month. Thank you
DNB Bank AC # 0530 2294668
Account for international payments: NO15 0530 2294 668
Vipps: #557320

  Donate Here