Ariana Grande Wins Video of Year, Multiple Awards at 2025 MTV VMAs

Ariana Grande was the standout winner at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, taking home Video of the Year for her music video "Brighter Days Ahead," a 26-minute short film exploring healing and trauma. Grande emotionally thanked her fans, therapists, and the LGBTQ+ community, emphasizing the importance of art as a safe space and encouraging those on a healing journey to continue forward. The video features Grande portraying an elderly woman named Peaches, revisiting pivotal life moments, including one from her late father's perspective, who also appears in the video. Lady Gaga won Artist of the Year and Best Collaboration for "Die with a Smile" with Bruno Mars, while Sabrina Carpenter took Album of the Year. The ceremony, hosted by LL Cool J, balanced nostalgia with fresh performances and honored music legends like Mariah Carey, Ricky Martin, and Busta Rhymes. The event notably avoided political messaging, contrasting with previous years.