Lady Gaga, Rosé shine as MTV VMA 2025 winners unveiled

The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards delivered a night of major milestones and standout performances at New York’s UBS Arena, where global icons and rising stars shared the spotlight.

Lady Gaga emerged as one of the evening’s biggest winners, securing Artist of the Year. Leading with 12 nominations, she cemented her dominance on a night filled with powerful performances and highly anticipated rivalries. Gaga also triumphed in Best Collaboration for her hit with Bruno Mars, Die with a Smile, and in technical categories such as Best Direction and Best Art Direction for Abracadabra.

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Rosé of BLACKPINK makes history

Rosé of BLACKPINK made history, becoming the first K-pop star to claim Song of the Year with APT., her collaboration with Bruno Mars. The achievement marked a landmark moment for Korean artists at the VMAs, signaling the genre’s continued global expansion. BLACKPINK further strengthened their legacy by winning Best Group.

The show, hosted by LL Cool J, balanced celebration with tributes. The late Ozzy Osbourne was honored through a medley of his classics by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, YUNGBLUD, and Nuno Bettencourt. Mariah Carey received the Video Vanguard Award, while Busta Rhymes and Ricky Martin were recognized with inaugural honors celebrating their contributions to hip-hop and Latin music respectively.

Additional highlights included Ariana Grande’s win for Video of the Year with brighter days ahead, Sabrina Carpenter taking Best Pop Artist, and Doechii earning Best Hip Hop. With a blend of fresh talent and industry legends, the 2025 VMAs showcased music’s evolving global landscape.