Lady Gaga to Perform Live at 2025 MTV VMAs/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Lady Gaga is set to perform at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, where she leads with 12 nominations. The show will include major performances from Doja Cat, Busta Rhymes, Ricky Martin, and more. LL Cool J returns as solo host for the September 7 broadcast from New York.
Lady Gaga VMAs 2025 Quick Looks
- Lady Gaga returns to VMA stage with 12 nominations.
- LL Cool J to host the show solo for first time.
- Performers include Doja Cat, Busta Rhymes, Ricky Martin, Post Malone, and more.
- New awards: Latin Icon and Rock the Bells Visionary.
- VMAs air September 7 on CBS, MTV, and Paramount+.
- Fan voting open in 19 categories until September 5.
- Mariah Carey to receive this year’s Video Vanguard Award.
- Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars duet “Die with a Smile” up for 4 awards.
Deep Look
Lady Gaga Returns to VMA Stage as 2025 Awards Show Highlights Latin, Rap Icons and Fan Favorites
LOS ANGELES — Pop powerhouse Lady Gaga is officially headlining the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), bringing her signature spectacle back to the stage as she leads all nominees with 12 nods, including Artist of the Year and Best Album for her chart-topping release “Mayhem.”
This year’s VMAs are set for September 7 at 8 p.m. ET, broadcasting live from UBS Arena on Long Island, New York, and available to stream for the first time on CBS, MTV, and Paramount+.
The last time Gaga performed at the VMAs was in 2020, delivering a now-iconic set from her “Chromatica” album. She joins a growing list of A-listers and breakout stars ready to hit the 2025 stage.
Star-Studded Lineup of Performers
In addition to Gaga, confirmed performers include:
- Doja Cat, debuting her new single “Jealous Type”
- Jelly Roll, nominated in four categories
- Post Malone, a six-time VMA winner
- Busta Rhymes, receiving a special honor and performing
- Ricky Martin, performing and accepting a historic award
- Conan Gray and Tate McRae, both making their VMAs performance debut
- Alex Warren, nominated for Best New Artist, Best Pop, and Song of the Year
- Sabrina Carpenter, returning after winning Song of the Year in 2024
- sombr, a rising singer-songwriter and producer making his award debut
- J Balvin, collaborating with Justin Quiles, Lenny Tavárez, and DJ Snake on “Zun Zun” and “Noventa”
McRae is also nominated in four categories, including Best Pop and Song of the Year.
New Awards Spotlight Latin and Hip-Hop Legends
For the first time, the VMAs will honor artists in two new categories:
- Busta Rhymes will receive the Rock the Bells Visionary Award, recognizing his trailblazing influence and contributions to hip-hop.
- Ricky Martin will be honored with the inaugural Latin Icon Award, celebrating his four-decade career that helped bring Latin culture into global music prominence.
Both will perform live during the ceremony, continuing their long-standing relationships with the VMAs.
LL Cool J to Host Solo
LL Cool J, who co-hosted the 2022 show with Nicki Minaj and Jack Harlow, returns as sole host of the 2025 VMAs. The rap legend and actor is also up for Best Hip-Hop for his collaboration “Murdergram Deux” with Eminem, part of his recent album “THE FORCE,” his first studio release in over a decade.
LL Cool J has a deep legacy with the VMAs, having first won in 1991 and becoming the first rapper to receive the Video Vanguard Award in 1997.
Mariah Carey to Receive Video Vanguard Award
Mariah Carey will take home the prestigious Video Vanguard Award for her iconic contributions to music videos and pop culture. She joins past recipients like Katy Perry, Shakira, Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, and Madonna.
Carey’s career spans more than three decades and includes countless No. 1 hits, visually memorable music videos, and groundbreaking artistic innovation.
Nominees: Gaga Leads, Bruno Mars Close Behind
Lady Gaga tops this year’s nominations list with 12, followed closely by Bruno Mars with 11. Their duet “Die with a Smile” is up for Song of the Year and three other categories.
Other major nominees include:
- Kendrick Lamar (10 nominations)
- ROSÉ and Sabrina Carpenter (8 each)
- Ariana Grande and The Weeknd (7 each)
- Billie Eilish (6 nominations)
- Charli XCX, with 5 nominations for her viral summer hit “Guess” featuring Billie Eilish
Artists like Bad Bunny, Doechii, Ed Sheeran, Jelly Roll, Miley Cyrus, and Tate McRae also earned four nominations each, underscoring a diverse range of talent and genres being celebrated this year.
How to Vote for the VMAs
Fans can vote across 19 award categories by visiting the official VMAs website, with voting open until September 5 at 6 p.m. ET. The Best New Artist category remains open into the live show, giving fans a chance to make last-minute decisions.
Each voter can cast up to 10 votes per category per day.
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