Ariana Grande attends the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena
FilmMagic
Ariana Grande took home trophies for Video of the Year, Best Pop and Best Longform Video for Brighter Days Ahead at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards – and all three times at the podium were a charm as she effusively thanked everyone from her fans to her therapist to her father, who makes an appearance in the 26-minute video.
Accepting the biggest award of the night on Sunday, September 7 at New York’s UBS Arena, Grande took the stage with the video’s director Christian Breslauer, and showered her fans with both appreciation and inspiration.
“I’m so grateful that I get to do this with my life and to have such fiercely loving and supportive fans. Thank you for growing with me and being so supportive of me as a human being, navigating in real time which creative itch needs to be scratched next, whether it’s acting, music, musical theater or a little bit of tour,” she said.
“This project is about the hard work that is healing all different kinds of trauma and coming home to our young selves and creating safety in our own lives, which is a lifelong process and a daily exercise,” the Wicked star continued. “If you’re on that journey, please continue onward, because I promise there are brighter days ahead.”
Earlier during the awards show, which was hosted by LL Cool J and broadcast for the first time ever on CBS and also simulcasted on MTV and streamed on Paramount+, Grande noted “it takes a village” to create a music video on the scale of Brighter Days Ahead.
She acknowledged all who had a role, from the producers to the lighting team to the art department and craft services, while accepting the Best Pop trophy. And she gave a few special shout outs.
“Thank you to my dad, who acted in this video for the first time in his life and he is the best scene partner and dad in the world,” she said. Grande concluded by noting, “Thank you to my therapist and gay people. I love you.”
Grande’s triple win came during a night that largely celebrated female artists.
Lady Gaga walked away with four trophies, including for Artist of the Year, where she bested competition from Bad Bunny, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar and Taylor Swift. Sabrina Carpenter picked up three wins, including Best Album for Short N Sweet.