Photo courtesy from Teen Vogue
The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) happened on Sept. 7 at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, hosted by LL Cool J. The award show also aired live on CBS for the first time, allowing viewers from around the world to tune into the show. The rise in viewership was clear, with a whopping 42% increase, according to the Paramount Press.
This year, the VMAs included two new categories: best pop artist and best country video, highlighting a wider range of artists. The awards had various viral moments, like Doja Cat eating her lipstick on the red carpet.
Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande took home the most wins. Lady Gaga’s performances of “Abracadabra” and “The Dead Dance” from her album Mayhem were eccentric. Her theatrical staging, striking visuals and uniqueness earned her the artist of the year award, reinforcing her status as a defying force in music. She was nominated for a total of 12 awards, from best cinematography to art direction, bringing home a total of four awards — best art direction, best direction, artist of the year and best collaboration for “Die With a Smile,” a pop-soul song with Bruno Mars.
Newer artists also captured the spotlight like the rising pop girl-group KATSEYE, who made their MTV debut performing their songs “Gabriela” and “Gnarly,” which earned them the push performance of the year award for their song “Touch.” Meanwhile country-pop acts like singer Megan Maroney won the first-ever country award for her song, “Am I Okay?” highlighting the genre’s expanding reach by mixing contemporary beats with guitar melodies. Bailey Zimmerman, one of country music’s most recognizable artists, performed “Lost” featuring The Kid LAROI (known for the global hit song “Stay” ft. Justin Bieber).
Mariah Carey made a reappearance at the VMAs, performing there for the first time in 20 years. Dressed in a dazzling golden dress, she sang her hit songs, including “Obsessed” and “Honey,” leaving fans wanting to hear more. Carey’s performance celebrated her legacy as an influential figure in the music industry, and her return satisfied high anticipation from long-time fans. She won the Video Vanguard Award, an honor award for artists for their impact and contributions to the music industry.
MTV also honored rock legend Ozzy Osbourne with a tribute performance by Yungblud (Dominic Harrison), a rising pop-rock artist, who sang parts of the songs “Crazy Train” and “Changes” alongside Joe Perry.
The 2025 VMAs were a highlight of recognized and rising artists in the music scene. It was an exciting award ceremony and a moment to honor musical artists while shedding light on new acts. It reminded us of the recurrent nature of the industry: celebrating notable artists through the immense support of the fans.