Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande shine as female artists dominate the VMA's

Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter were among the big winners at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) which largely celebrated female artists at New York's UBS Arena on Sunday evening. The night's top moments included:

Gaga's Historic Night

Lady Gaga entered the ceremony with the most nominations, totaling 12, and walked away with four awards, including Artist of the Year. This achievement brought her career total to 22 VMAs, placing her third in all-time wins behind Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. During her acceptance speech, she expressed her gratitude, saying, “Being an artist is an attempt to connect the souls of people all over the world.” Following the ceremony, she performed at Madison Square Garden, showcasing her new music, including Abracadabra and The Dead Dance, directed by Tim Burton.

Ariana Grande's Emotional Wins

Ariana Grande took home three awards, including Video of the Year for "Brighter Days Ahead." In her speech, she thanked her father for his cameo in the video and spoke about the healing process through music. She encouraged others on their journey of self-discovery and healing, emphasizing that "there are brighter days ahead."

Sabrina Carpenter’s Empowering Message

Sabrina Carpenter won Album of the Year for Short n' Sweet and the inaugural Best Pop Artist award. Her performance of "Tears" featured a celebration of diversity, with drag queens and trans dancers holding signs like "in trans we trust." Carpenter’s emotional acceptance speech highlighted the importance of hard work and acceptance in the music industry.

Mariah Carey's Lifetime Achievement Award

Mariah Carey received a lifetime achievement award, also winning her first victory in the R&B category for "Type Dangerous." In a humorous video message, she commented on the delay of the award. During her live performance, she sang a medley of her hits, though her energy drew mixed reactions from fans, with some noting that her performance felt lackluster. Nonetheless, she reflected on how music videos have been integral to her artistic expression.

Ricky Martin's Nostalgic Performance

Latin music icon Ricky Martin performed a medley of his classic hits, accepting his award from Jessica Simpson. He spoke about breaking boundaries and keeping music alive, crediting his fans for his long career. The night also featured performances from Busta Rhymes, who showcased his iconic tracks, and Doja Cat, among others.

Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne

The ceremony paid tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away in July. His son, Jack Osbourne, introduced a performance featuring Yungblud and other artists who performed some of Osbourne's greatest hits like "Crazy Train" and "Mama, I'm Coming Home."

Diversity and New Talent Recognition

Megan Moroney made history as the first winner in the Best Country category for her single "Am I Okay?" The night also recognized Doechii for her wins in hip-hop and