Grande, Gaga, Carpenter shine at MTV VMAs

NEW YORK: The MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) returned to New York on Sunday with a night of big wins, bold performances, and a celebration of fan favorites. Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, and Sabrina Carpenter emerged as the biggest names of the evening, while Mariah Carey and Ozzy Osbourne were honoured with emotional tributes.

Ariana Grande captured the show’s most coveted prize, winning Video of the Year for “Brighter Days Ahead.” The pop star, who also secured the Best Pop award earlier in the night, gave a heartfelt speech about the role art has played in her life. “Art has been a safe space for me since I was a kid. I’m so grateful I get to do this,” she said while holding her Moon Person trophy. She also thanked her father, who made his acting debut in the video, calling him “the best scene partner, and dad, in the world.”

Lady Gaga was crowned Artist of the Year, prevailing over fellow heavyweights Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. Dressed in a dramatic black-and-purple ruffled gown with oversized sleeves, Gaga described the honour as both humbling and surreal. “To be rewarded for being an artist, for something that is already so rewarding, is incredible,” she said before rushing off to perform her Mayhem tour stop at Madison Square Garden. Gaga’s victory prevented Swift or Beyoncé from surpassing each other as the all-time leading VMA winner, keeping both tied at 30 trophies each.

The 38-year-old pop icon also added Best Collaboration to her tally, sharing the prize with Bruno Mars for their hit duet “Die with a Smile.”

Another major moment came when Sabrina Carpenter took home Best Album for her project “Short n’ Sweet.” Fighting back tears, Carpenter thanked her fans: “I really don’t take for granted when you guys take the time out of your lives to listen to an album. I’m just the luckiest girl in the world.”

The Song of the Year award went to “APT.” by Bruno Mars and K-pop star Rose. The Blackpink singer dedicated the win to her teenage self: “This is a really big moment for 16-year-old me, and for anyone else dreaming of being accepted equally for their hard work.”

The night was not just about current chart-toppers. A musical tribute honored the late British rocker Ozzy Osbourne. Yungblud kicked off the segment with “Crazy Train” alongside guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, before Aerosmith legends Steven Tyler and Joe Perry joined in for “Mama, I’m Coming Home,” sending the audience into a wave of nostalgia.

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Mariah Carey received a Lifetime Achievement Award, reflecting on her decades-long career and the importance of music videos. “Videos are mini movies visualising the sheer fantasy of it all,” she said. “And sometimes they’re just an excuse to bring the drama and do things I wouldn’t do in real life.”

Other highlights included folk-pop artist Alex Warren winning Best New Artist, further signaling the rise of a new generation of performers.

First broadcast in 1984, the MTV VMAs have long been known for creating pop culture history, from Madonna and Britney Spears’ infamous kiss to Gaga’s meat dress. This year’s ceremony, broadcast live on CBS and MTV, kept that tradition alive with a mix of nostalgia, spectacle, and the celebration of music’s brightest stars.