Lady Gaga wins Artist of the Year, leaves MTV VMAs after 15 minutes

Lady Gaga won Artist of the Year at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, September 7, beating out nominees including Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Kendrick Lamar, but left the ceremony after just 15 minutes to rush to her sold-out Madison Square Garden concert.

The pop superstar led all artists with 12 nominations going into the night and delivered an emotional acceptance speech dedicating the win to her fiancé Michael Polansky and her fans, known as “Little Monsters”.

Despite her early departure from the UBS Arena in New York, Gaga maintained a presence throughout the VMAs ceremony through a pre-recorded performance filmed at Madison Square Garden the previous night, featuring “Abracadabra” and “The Dead Dance”.

The Artist of the Year victory adds to Gaga’s collection of 18 previous VMA awards, making her one of the ceremony’s most honored artists as she continues her Mayhem Ball Tour supporting her album “Mayhem”.

The 2025 VMAs, hosted by LL Cool J, marked the first time the ceremony aired on CBS alongside its traditional MTV broadcast, expanding its reach from the UBS Arena venue.

Lady Gaga captured the prestigious Artist of the Year award at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, September 7, but made headlines for leaving the ceremony after just 15 minutes to rush across New York to her sold-out Madison Square Garden concert.hollywoodreporter

The pop superstar was announced as the winner of the evening’s first major award, beating out formidable nominees including Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Bad Bunny, Morgan Wallen, and The Weeknd. Gaga, who led all artists with 12 nominations going into the night, delivered an emotional acceptance speech before explaining she had to return to Manhattan for her Mayhem Ball Tour performance.bleedingcool

A Swift Exit for Star Power

“I wish I could stay and watch all these amazing performances, but I have to go back to Madison Square Garden,” Gaga told the UBS Arena audience after her victory. The VMAs venue in Elmont, New York sits approximately 18 miles from Madison Square Garden, requiring a quick transition between the two events that both began at 8 p.m. ET.eonline

According to People, Gaga dedicated her win to fiancé Michael Polansky, saying “To my partner in all things, Michael, creating this year with you was a beautiful, beautiful dream. And you have been my partner every step of the way. I dedicate this to you, to my love”.people

Pre-Recorded Performance Strategy

Despite her early departure, Gaga still maintained a presence throughout the ceremony through a pre-recorded performance filmed at Madison Square Garden the previous night. The segment featured “Abracadabra” and the live debut of “The Dead Dance,” her new song for Netflix’s “Wednesday” season 2.elle

According to Madison Square Garden’s official website, Gaga’s concert was delayed to approximately 9:30 p.m. to accommodate her VMAs appearance, later than her typical show times.msg

Record-Breaking Nominations

Gaga’s Artist of the Year victory came after leading this year’s nominations with 12 nods, including recognition for her album “Mayhem” and collaborations with Bruno Mars. The win adds to her collection of 18 previous VMA awards, cementing her status as one of the ceremony’s most honored artists.bleedingcool

The 2025 VMAs, hosted by LL Cool J, marked the first time the ceremony aired on CBS alongside its traditional MTV broadcast, expanding its reach to millions of viewers from UBS Arena.abcnews