Very Much About the VMAs
Image courtesy: Rolling Stones
September 7, 2025, marked the 41st year of MTV’s VMAs (Video Music Awards), with a record-breaking 5.5 million viewers tuning in to see stunning performances and nail-biting reveals.
The very first VMAs were hosted on September 14, 1984, at Radio City Music Hall in the Big Apple with hosts Dan Aykroyd and Bette Midler. American jazz icon Herbie Hancock took home five awards that year, making him the most decorated artist of the night. In comparison, Michael Jackson followed closely behind with three awards for his recent release, “Thriller”. That night, the popstar of our dreams, Madonna, performed her hit single “Like a Virgin,” stunning viewers as she rolled around the stage in a tantalizing white bustier and lacy underpants, perhaps foreshadowing the iconicness and bold ideology yet to come for the award ceremony.
Image Courtesy: Yahoo
Madonna’s performance paved the way for what would become some of the most well-known moments in pop culture history, in my opinion. Viewers everywhere probably remember what they were doing and where they were in 2002 when Christina Aguilera stepped onto the carpet in a denim mini skirt, accompanied by a scarf turned top and paperboy hat. Once again, viewers remember the fear when Kanye West took the stage in 2009 to interrupt Taylor Swift’s speech to say that he believed Beyoncé should have won.
Now, for the most critical question: what happened at this year’s VMAs?
The award show was hosted once again in the Big Apple, but at the UBS Arena, with host LL Cool J. Lady Gaga was the most decorated artist of the night, winning four awards and receiving twelve nominations, and following up her victories by performing on tour at Madison Square Garden. Simultaneously, Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana Grande followed closely behind her with three nominations.
However, several categories were not announced live, but instead posted on social media after the show wrapped, leaving some fans frustrated and even outraged. In comparison to Madonna’s performance, Carpenter performed her song “Tears” from her album, which is about, ahem, how men suck, thank you very much, alongside drag queens from RuPaul's Drag Race.
Along with these star performances, new talent such as the TikTok-famous Sombr performed with a group of women, one of whom proceeded to lick up and down his neck while he performed. This year, outfits were stunning per usual, with Doja Cat walking onto the carpet in one I would call a proper homage to Dolly Parton, with big, beautiful hair and bright colors. While onstage, Conan Gray performed his newest love song tragedy, “Vodka Cranberry”, in a Romeo and Juliet-inspired costume, with lovely red velvet details and frills.
Now I am just impatiently waiting for next year's show.
Strike Out,
Katherine Fivgas
Editor: Maddie Launer
Athens