Lady Gaga denies this record to Taylor Swift, Beyoncé after she won artist of the year at MTV's Video Music Awards 2025

Pop singer Lady Gaga added one more award to her trophy cabinet after she won the artist of the year award at MTV's Video Music Awards on Sunday (September 7, 2025). The pop singer, who went into the ceremony with 12 nominations, prevailed over Taylor Swift and Beyoncé at the fan-voted honors in New York.

Gaga, currently on tour with her album "Mayhem," took the stage in a black ruffled dress with giant sleeves and purple accents. She thanked her fans as she held the VMAs Moon Person trophy. "I cannot begin to tell you what this means to be rewarded for being an artist, being rewarded for something that is already so rewarding," Gaga was quoted by Reuters as saying before leaving the venue to perform a concert at Madison Square Garden.

The award bagged by Gaga prevented Beyoncé or Swift from emerging as the most-honored artist in VMA history. They remain tied at 30 VMAs each. Swift and Beyoncé had just one VMA nod this year, and it was in the same category, Artist of the Year. Gaga went into the ceremony with the most nominations—12—for songs including "Die with a Smile," her duet with Bruno Mars.

Host LL Cool J kicked off the ceremony at the UBS Arena in New York with a promise of show-stopping performances from legends such as Ricky Martin and Mariah Carey and a tribute to the late British rocker Ozzy Osbourne.

The VMAs began airing on MTV in 1984 and became known for memorable moments such as an onstage kiss between Madonna and Britney Spears and Gaga's appearance in a raw meat dress. CBS aired Sunday's ceremony live. New categories were added this year for best country video and best pop artist.