Lady Gaga was named Artist of the Year at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night, capping a ceremony that combined high-fashion red carpet moments, surprise wins and attention-grabbing performances at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.
Gaga, who led the night with 12 nominations, accepted the Moon Person in a puff-sleeved Marc Jacobs black-and-purple gown and delivered a speech about the role of art and audiences before saying she had to leave for a concert at Madison Square Garden later that night. Ricky Martin received the ceremony’s first Latin Icon Award, and Busta Rhymes was honored with the Rock the Bells Visionary Award.
The show, hosted by LL Cool J and airing on CBS for the first time coast-to-coast, mixed staged productions with unpredictable red-carpet moments. Sabrina Carpenter, who had released her seventh studio album days earlier, walked the carpet in a sheer crimson custom Valentino gown and later performed as part of the broadcast; her video "Manchild" was among nominees in several technical categories. Jessica Simpson made a rare red-carpet appearance in a sheer black corset look ahead of a scheduled performance at the Grand Ole Opry. Megan Moroney wore a rhinestone-adorned halter top with a white maxi skirt and took home the inaugural Best Country VMA, an award MTV presented before the telecast.
Doja Cat opened the live broadcast with an '80s-referencing performance of "Jealous Type," delivering a theatrical set piece that included a Max Headroom-style introduction and a guest appearance by saxophonist Kenny G. Her stage show leaned into retro visuals and choreography; she descended on a curving pink chaise longue and performed amid a black-and-white checkerboard stage with robotic dance moves.
Earlier on the red carpet, Doja drew widespread attention for an unscripted stunt in which she bit into and appeared to eat a tube of lipstick while posing for photographers. The moment generated strong reactions on social media, with some viewers expressing disgust and others praising the gesture as provocative or emblematic of her boundary-pushing persona. Representatives for Doja Cat did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Lady Gaga, who accepted Artist of the Year from Lenny Kravitz, told the audience she saw art as "an attempt to connect the souls of people all over the world" and dedicated the award to her fans and her fiance. Gaga is also among the nominees for Video of the Year and other major categories for her work this year. She has previously been a signature VMA presence, dating to her 2009 "Paparazzi" performance and the widely discussed looks and moments she has staged at past ceremonies.
Other winners announced during the broadcast included Rosé and Bruno Mars, who took Song of the Year for "Apt.," and Ariana Grande, who was named Video of the Year for "Brighter Days Ahead." The ceremony also recognized emerging acts and genre-specific categories across pop, hip-hop, R&B, Latin and global music scenes.
Producers staged a mix of solo sets and collaborations across the night’s lineup. In addition to Doja Cat, performers included Sabrina Carpenter, Mariah Carey, Jelly Roll, Post Malone, Tate McRae and J Balvin. Presenters ranged from Jessica Simpson and Paris Hilton to Drew Barrymore and Ciara, reflecting the show’s blend of music and mainstream pop culture.
MTV’s decision to air the VMAs on a broadcast network for the first time nationally this year expanded the program’s reach and underscored the awards’ continuing role as a convergence point for music, fashion and viral moments. The winners and performances highlighted a mix of established superstars and rising artists, while unscripted red-carpet behavior kept social feeds active throughout the night.
The VMAs’ telecast continues to evolve amid a crowded awards-season calendar, with organizers emphasizing curated production numbers and headline artist appearances alongside awards recognizing technical craft in video-making. The 2025 ceremony underscored that combination: an awards show punctuated by haute-couture arrivals, polished stage moments and, at times, unpredictable celebrity theatrics.