Ariana Grande captured the MTV Video Music Awards’ highest honour on Sunday, winning Video of the Year for “Brighter Days Ahead,” which also secured Best Pop Song at the ceremony held near New York City.
Visibly moved as she accepted the night’s most prestigious award, the 32-year-old singer-songwriter and actor offered an emotional tribute to her fans, describing them as “fiercely loving and supportive.”
“Thank you for growing with me and being so supportive of me as a human being,” Grande said, while also acknowledging her “therapist and gay people” when receiving her first award earlier in the evening.
Lady Gaga stood out as another big winner, surpassing top contenders including Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift, and The Weeknd to claim Artist of the Year. The 39-year-old paused her concert tour to accept the award on stage and also won Best Collaboration with Bruno Mars for “Die with a Smile.”
Rose, now pursuing a solo career after her rise to fame with K-pop group Blackpink, earned Song of the Year for “APT,” which she co-wrote with Bruno Mars.
Sabrina Carpenter took home Best Album of the Year for “Short n’ Sweet.”
The event carried a nostalgic theme, featuring performances from legends such as Mariah Carey, Busta Rhymes, and Ricky Martin, while newer stars like Doja Cat and Tate McRae drew inspiration from 1980s and 1990s choreography.
Interestingly, Kendrick Lamar, who recently dominated the Grammy Awards with five wins, did not secure any prizes despite several nominations.
In contrast to last year’s ceremony—held during election season when Taylor Swift encouraged fans to vote for Kamala Harris—this year’s edition appeared to deliberately steer clear of political messaging.