Ashlee Simpson, 40, was among the early arrivals at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards red carpet at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, drawing attention in a black lace-up gown that exposed a side panel. Simpson paired the dress with open-toe black heels and wore her auburn hair in mermaid waves; her husband, Evan Ross, 37, joined her in a dark suit.
Other attendees offered a range of looks that reflected the evening’s blend of pop, rock and genre-crossing acts. Taylor Momsen, 32, embraced a grunge aesthetic in a black bra and leather skirt that revealed a toned midriff; country performer Dasha appeared in a scarlet dress with sheer lace panels; model Lolo Wood wore a sparkling pink mini; Jazmyn Smith went shirtless beneath a structured grey top and matching mini skirt; and Valentina appeared in a plunging black sequin gown. Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick and his wife, Nessa, chose sporty ensembles, while YouTube creator MrBeast attended with his fiancée, Thea Booysen.
Beyond the red carpet, the ceremony was framed by the return of Lady Gaga, who led the 2025 nominations and was scheduled to perform on the broadcast. Gaga was nominated in multiple major categories, including Video of the Year for her duet with Bruno Mars, and entered the night with 18 career VMA wins. Bruno Mars followed with a high number of nods, and Kendrick Lamar was among the other top nominees.
Sabrina Carpenter was also slated to perform and was among the contenders for Video of the Year. The show’s announced lineup of performers included Doja Cat, Mariah Carey, Jelly Roll, Post Malone, Tate McRae and J Balvin. Presenters named for the night included Ciara, Drew Barrymore, Jessica Simpson, Nikki Glaser, Paris Hilton, Livvy Dunne and Ice Spice; Ashlee Simpson Ross was listed among the presenters as well. LL Cool J served as host. For the first time the VMAs were carried on the broadcast network CBS while also streaming on the premium tier of Paramount+ and simulcasting on MTV.
Nominees spanned a wide array of categories and genres. Video of the Year contenders included Ariana Grande’s Brighter Days Ahead, Billie Eilish’s Birds of a Feather, Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’s Die With a Smile, Rosé and Bruno Mars’s Apt., Sabrina Carpenter’s Manchild and The Weeknd & Playboi Carti’s Timeless. Artist of the Year nominees listed major figures such as Bad Bunny, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Morgan Wallen, Taylor Swift and The Weeknd; Swift’s presence on the list reflected a single nomination after a year without a new album or single release.
The awards also highlighted categories across pop, hip-hop, R&B, alternative, rock, Latin, K-pop and Afrobeats, with nominees ranging from established stars to breakout acts. Lady Gaga’s album Mayhem was among the selections up for Best Album, competing with projects from Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar, Morgan Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter and The Weeknd.
The ceremony brought together industry figures, artists and creators on a single platform as MTV presented its annual music-video-focused awards show. Winners were to be announced during the live broadcast, continuing the VMAs’ long-running role as a showcase for both red-carpet fashion and music industry competition.