Ariana Grande Shines at the MTV VMAs with Emotional Win
Ariana Grande walked away with the biggest prize at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, taking home Video of the Year for “Brighter Days Ahead.” The song also earned her Best Pop Song, making it a double celebration for the star.
The 32-year-old was visibly moved as she accepted the award, thanking her fans for their unwavering love. “Thank you for growing with me and being so supportive of me as a human being,” she said, adding heartfelt appreciation for her therapist and the LGBTQ+ community during an earlier win.
Lady Gaga was another standout of the night, securing Artist of the Year in a category stacked with names like Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift, and The Weeknd. Gaga even stepped away from her ongoing tour to personally accept the honor. She later returned to the stage with Bruno Mars to collect the Best Collaboration award for “Die with a Smile.”
Former Blackpink member Rosé also had a shining moment, as her track “APT,” co-written with Bruno Mars, was named Song of the Year. Sabrina Carpenter rounded things out with Album of the Year for “Short n’ Sweet.”
The ceremony carried a wave of nostalgia, with Mariah Carey, Busta Rhymes, and Ricky Martin delivering crowd-pleasing performances. Meanwhile, younger acts like Doja Cat and Tate McRae kept the energy high with dance routines inspired by the styles of the ’80s and ’90s.
One of the evening’s biggest surprises was Kendrick Lamar leaving without a win, despite entering with multiple nominations and riding high off his Grammy success earlier this year.
Unlike last year, when Taylor Swift used her moment to encourage voter participation, this year’s show leaned entirely into music and spectacle, leaving politics at the door.
