VMAs 2025 Winners & Viral Moments: Best Highlights USA

Welcome to your ultimate deep-dive into VMAs 2025 Winners & Viral Moments—a night packed with electrifying performances, style statements, and unforgettable surprises. From Lady Gaga’s dazzling Artist of the Year win to Sabrina Carpenter channeling 70s Studio 54 nostalgia, the VMAs 2025 Winners & Viral Moments delivered enough buzz to flood your social feeds. Whether you’re here for chart-topping winners, heartwarming speeches, or trendsetting looks, you’ve landed in the right spot. Let’s break it all down—who took home the Moon Persons, what made us stop scrolling, and which iconic scenes will dominate “best of” clips in 2025.

Overview of 2025 VMAs Big Winners

Lady Gaga Reigns Supreme

• Named Artist of the Year, defeating heavyweights like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé.
• Won 4 Moon Person awards—the most of the night.
• Dedicated her win to fiancé Michael Polansky and her fans—the “Little Monsters,” calling him her “partner in all things”.
• Her performance was pre-recorded during her Mayhem Ball tour and she dashed back to Madison Square Garden right afterward.

Ariana Grande’s Winning Night

• Took home Video of the Year for “Brighter Days Ahead” along with Best Pop Video.
• Her video also won Best Long Form Video.
• Taylor Swift Fashion Trends | USA Style Guide | Red Carpet Model
• Beyoncé ‘Cowboy Carter’ Tour: Dates & Tickets Guide USA

Sabrina Carpenter’s Triple Crown

• Landed three awards: Best Pop Artist, Best Visual Effects for “Manchild,” and Best Album (Short n’ Sweet).
• Made a retro fashion splash at her Studio 54-themed after-party, wearing a 1975 Bob Mackie dress originally worn by Cher.

Other Notable Winners

• Rosé & Bruno Mars: Song of the Year for “Apt.
• Alex Warren: Best New Artist, propelled by his hit “Ordinary”.
• Special honors:
  • Mariah Carey: Video Vanguard Award, first-ever VMA win, plus a medley of her classics and debut “Sugar Sweet”.
  • Ricky Martin: inaugural Latin Icon Award The GuardianEW.comWikipedia.
  • Busta Rhymes: Rock the Bells Visionary Award, with touching tribute to VJ Ananda Lewis.

Viral Moments That Broke the Internet

1. Gaga’s Express Exit

She accepted her award then hurried back to her tour. Fans called it “peak Gaga”—both diva energy and dedication rolled into one!

2. Retro Fashion Flashback

Sabrina Carpenter turned heads in a Bob Mackie dress once worn by Cher. Headlines lit up—“Sabrina 54” was born.

3. Mariah’s Emotional First VMA

Decades in the making, her first Moon Person after nine nominations—and a stunning performance—made social feeds emotional.

4. Sabrina’s Bold Statement

Her VMAs performance included drag performers and messages like “In Trans We Trust”—a powerful visual moment that quickly trended.

5. Legends Meet

Mariah executing iconic hits, Lady Gaga storming off, Ricky Martin and Busta Rhymes being honored—it was culture in motion.

Quick Winners Table

Category	Winner(s)
Artist of the Year	Lady Gaga
Video of the Year	Ariana Grande – “Brighter Days Ahead”
Best Pop Artist	Sabrina Carpenter
Best New Artist	Alex Warren
Song of the Year	Rosé & Bruno Mars – “Apt.”
Video Vanguard Award	Mariah Carey
Latin Icon Award	Ricky Martin
Rock the Bells Visionary	Busta Rhymes

10 Related Questions & Answers –

Who won Artist of the Year at VMAs 2025?

The Artist of the Year award at the VMAs 2025 was won by Lady Gaga, who dominated the night with multiple wins and a powerful presence, proving once again her lasting impact on pop culture.

What video won Video of the Year at VMAs 2025?

Ariana Grande took home the Video of the Year honor for her stunning visual piece “Brighter Days Ahead,” which also secured other major wins for her.

Did Mariah Carey win her first VMA in 2025?

Yes, after years of nominations, Mariah Carey finally earned her very first Moon Person in 2025 when she was honored with the prestigious Video Vanguard Award.

What awards did Sabrina Carpenter win at VMAs 2025?

Sabrina Carpenter enjoyed a breakout moment by winning three awards, including Best Pop Artist, Best Visual Effects for her track “Manchild,” and Best Album for Short n’ Sweet.

What was the viral VMAs 2025 fashion moment?

The most viral fashion moment belonged to Sabrina Carpenter, who stunned at her afterparty in a vintage Bob Mackie dress once worn by Cher in 1975, sparking massive online buzz.

Who hosted the VMAs 2025?

The 2025 VMAs were hosted by Doja Cat, who brought humor, energy, and bold style choices to the stage, making her one of the most talked-about hosts in recent years.

What special awards were introduced at VMAs 2025?

Two new honors were introduced: Ricky Martin received the inaugural Latin Icon Award, while Busta Rhymes was given the Rock the Bells Visionary Award.

What is Lady Gaga’s most awarded VMAs year?

Lady Gaga’s most awarded VMAs year so far is 2025, when she secured four Moon Person trophies including the top honor of Artist of the Year.

What performances stole the show at VMAs 2025?

Standout performances included Mariah Carey’s career-spanning medley, Lady Gaga’s electrifying tour-recorded set, and Sabrina Carpenter’s bold stage show featuring drag performers.

Where were the VMAs 2025 held?

The MTV Video Music Awards 2025 took place at the UBS Arena in New York, adding to the event’s legacy of iconic East Coast celebrations.

Good vs Bad Habits –

Good Habits / Pros	Bad Habits / Cons
Punctuality: Arriving on time for rehearsals and events	Over-rehearsing: Can make performances feel stiff or robotic
Stage preparedness: Practicing choreography and vocals thoroughly	Wardrobe malfunctions: Costume issues causing awkward moments
Social media engagement: Connecting with fans & promoting performances	Last-minute speech improvisation: Risk of awkward or unclear messaging
Professionalism: Respecting crew, co-stars, and production schedule	Technical glitches due to lack of coordination
Balance of discipline and spontaneity: Knowing when to improvise	Occasional on-stage mistakes that go viral unintentionally

This chart summarizes how strong professional habits helped artists create iconic moments, while some

Unknown facts

Some lesser-known facts about the 2025 VMAs include Lady Gaga pre-recording her performance while simultaneously on tour, Sabrina Carpenter wearing a Cher-donated vintage dress from 1975, and Mariah Carey winning her first-ever Moon Person after nine previous nominations. Additionally, Ricky Martin became the first recipient of the Latin Icon Award, and Busta Rhymes was honored with the inaugural Rock the Bells Visionary Award. Many viewers were unaware that several performances were streamed live to international audiences, making the VMAs a truly global event.

Funny moments

The 2025 VMAs had plenty of humorous highlights. Doja Cat, while hosting, cracked jokes about retro outfits and fan reactions, causing viral memes online. During one rehearsal, a prop microphone slipped mid-performance, and Ariana Grande laughed it off gracefully. Another memorable laugh came from a wardrobe malfunction when a costume zipper jammed, leading to a spontaneous dance improvisation. These moments showcased that even high-profile events can have lighthearted, relatable incidents.

Competitors

The competition at VMAs 2025 was fierce, with top artists including Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Rosé & Bruno Mars, Alex Warren, and Sabrina Carpenter all vying for major awards. Each brought unique styles, fanbases, and viral moments to the stage, making it an unpredictable and thrilling night for viewers.