Five key moments from MTV VMAs as Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande win big

Paul GlynnCulture reporterWatch: Glitz, glamour and emotional speeches at VMAs 2025Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter dominate a female-led MTV VMAs in New YorkGaga wins 4 awards together with artist of the 12 months, boosting her profession whole to 22 which places her in third place on the all-time listGrande wins the evening’s large award for finest video for Brighter Days AheadCarpenter performs with drag queens and trans dancers, calling for equality and visibilityLady Gaga, Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter have been among the many large winners on the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) which largely celebrated feminine artists at New York’s UBS Area on Sunday night.Gaga collected 4 awards on the evening together with artist of the 12 months, heading off competitors from Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Unhealthy Bunny and Kendrick Lamar who have been all absent from this 12 months’s barely muted occasion.She devoted the award to her fiancé Michael Polansky as effectively her her followers aka the “Little Monsters”. Grande and Carpenter picked up three awards every. The previous received the evening’s large award for finest video for Brighter Days Forward whereas the latter’s haul included the brand new gong for finest pop artist.Getty ImagesThe ceremony was hosted by a largely off-screen LL Cool J who handed out solely seven awards throughout the telecast.Listed here are 5 of the stand-out moments and speaking factors from the three-hour Lengthy Island present, which honoured one of the best within the music video medium over the previous 12 months.1. VMAs go Gaga… then Gaga goes giggingGetty ImagesGaga went into the present as probably the most nominated artist of the night with 12 nods and she or he took residence 4 “moon particular person” trophies taking her profession whole to 22.This places her in third place on the all-time rating checklist, forward of Madonna and behind solely Swift and Beyoncé, who’ve 30 every.When amassing the award for artist of the 12 months award, she stated: “I can not start to let you know what this implies to me.”Being an artist is an try to attach the souls of individuals everywhere in the world.”She left the sector after amassing the award, however the MTV cameras later adopted her throughout the town to her stay live performance at Madison Sq. Backyard the place she carried out Abracadabra and The Lifeless Dance.Tim Burton directed the gothic music video to the latter music which additionally appeared on the soundtrack to the brand new Netflix Addams Household present, Wednesday, wherein Gaga additionally makes a visitor look.She additionally received awards for finest course and artwork course for Abracadabra, in addition to finest collaboration for her music Die With A Smile alongside Bruno Mars.One other Mars collaboration, his music APT with Rosé, received music of the 12 months whereas her South Korean outfit Blackpink have been named finest group.”This can be a actually large second for 16-year-old me and anybody else who has dreamed about being accepted equally for his or her exhausting work,” stated an emotional Rosé throughout a prolonged speech.2. Sabrina stands (and dances) with trans peopleGetty ImagesCarpenter’s Brief n’ Candy was topped album of the 12 months, whereas she was additionally named because the inaugural finest pop artist and took residence the visible results award for Manchild.She delivered a retro-themed efficiency of Tears alongside a group of drag queens and trans dancers holding indicators studying slogans like “in trans we belief” and “shield the dolls”.Grande grabbed the video of the 12 months, long-form video and finest pop video awards for Brighter Days Forward, thanking her personal dad for his cameo.”This challenge is concerning the exhausting work that’s therapeutic all totally different sorts of trauma and coming residence to our younger selves and creating security in our personal lives, which is a lifelong course of and a every day train,” she stated in an acceptance speech.”In case you’re on that journey, please proceed onward, as a result of I promise there are brighter days forward.”One other US singer, Megan Moroney, turned the first-ever winner in one of the best nation class for her single, Am I Okay?3. Mariah: Most respect (for minimal effort?)Getty ImagesMariah Carey, in the meantime, received a lifetime achievement award on an evening that largely celebrated feminine artists.The diva scored a primary victory within the R&B part for Sort Harmful earlier than being give the particular Video Vanguard award.”That is superb MTV, I do not know why it took you so lengthy!” she joked in a video message forward of performing later within the present.The Fantasy singer then sang a medley of her hits, with one fan noting on-line: “I like Mariah Carey’s voice however she’s acquired much less power than me on a Sunday evening.”One other fan commented that whereas she was “doing the naked minimal” she was “nonetheless [being] iconic”.In a speech the singer provided that music movies “are my lifestyle, of bringing music to my very own life.”She continued: “Let’s be trustworthy, typically they’re simply an excuse to convey the drama and do issues I would not do in actual life. Music evolves, however enjoyable? That’s everlasting.”Doechii did the double, successful the hip-hop award and finest choreography for Anxiousness, as did Tate McRae for finest modifying and music of the summer time for Simply Hold Watching taken from the F1 film.Shakira took the Latin prize for her music Soltera whereas South African star Tyla received the award for finest Afrobeats.4. Ricky rolls again the yearsGetty ImagesThere have been stay performances on the evening from the likes of McRae, Doja Cat and J Balvin, in addition to finest new artist Alex Warren and multi-national woman group Katseye, who received efficiency of the 12 months for Push.However Latin icon winner Ricky Martin confirmed he can nonetheless stay La Vida Loca with one of the best of them, performing a medley of his hits.Accepting his award from Jessica Simpson, Martin stated: “We simply need to break boundaries, and we simply need to hold music alive.”He credited his followers together with his 40-year profession: “That is quite simple: that is for you all,” he stated. “I’m hooked on your applause, that is why I hold coming again.”Fellow 53-year-old, rapper Busta Rhymes, additionally hit the stage to carry out tracks together with Break Ya Neck and Gimme Some Extra on an evening when he obtained the Rock The Bells Visionary prize.Elsewhere on the evening, Put up Malone was proven acting from Germany alongside Jelly Roll.5. Ozzy rememberedGetty ImagesYungblud and Steven Tyler paid tribute to Ozzie OsbourneLast however not least, the evening additionally remembered former Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne who died in July, with a efficiency launched through video message from his son Jack and his youngsters.Naked-chested British star Yungblud joined the likes of Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry to carry out tracks from Osbourne’s profession together with Loopy Prepare, Adjustments and Mama, I am Coming Residence.Fellow hellraisers Coldplay collected the rock class for All My Love whereas Sombr scored the choice award for Again To Pals.Try the complete checklist of winners right here.BBC Information used AI to assist write the abstract on the high of this text. It was edited by BBC journalists. Discover out extra.