Dubbed music’s “most iconic night”, the Video Music Awards were back stronger than ever this year, delivering iconic performances from music’s hottest stars and recognizing the past year’s most impactful moments in music. Known for moments like the Lady Gaga meat dress, the Beyonce pregnancy announcement and the beginning of the Kanye West and Taylor Swift feud, the VMAs are nothing without their iconic moments.
Gathered in the UBS Arena, located in Elmont, New York, the 2025 VMAs honored icons and celebrated iconic moments with performances, awards and tributes. With a stellar lineup of tenured stars and hot-off-the-press rookie performers, this year’s VMAs were an introduction to a new era of pop stars. Performers like Doja Cat, Sabrina Carpenter, Tate McRae and Alex Warren came in hungry to prove themselves as music icons.
Of course everyone takes inspiration from somewhere, and the VMAs are ready to honor their veteran performers. To honor music’s most impactful vocalist, the VMA Vanguard Award was accepted by none other than music’s biggest diva, Mariah Carey. Debuting in 1990, the “Songbird Supreme” has proven herself to be an international superstar. As the best-selling female artist of all time, Carey’s impact on music and music videos is more than deserving of this lifetime achievement award. Alongside a performance literally dripping in diamonds, the vocal powerhouse accepted her award encouraging the changing music scene. “Music evolves, videos evolve — but the fun, that is eternal,” she said.
As a growing industry, music often loses some of its most groundbreaking artists. The 2025 VMAs closed with a tribute to the “Prince of Darkness,” Ozzy Osbourne. Performed by Yungblud, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry and Nuno Bettencourt, the late rock star was honored in true heavy metal fashion with Osbourne’s genre-bending songs “Crazy Train,” “Changes” and “Mama, I’m Coming Home.”
In a world that grows darker by the day, it is important to remember how entertaining music can be. Sometimes it’s best to dance it out, sing at the top of your lungs and let your body be consumed by the beat.