Let’s give a round of applause for Lady Gaga.
The 38-year-old “Abracadabra” artist received the Innovator Award at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 17. During her acceptance speech, she reflected on her legacy and expressed her love for the LGBTQ+ community.
After thanking Doechii, who presented her with the award and referred to her as “an innovator already,” Gaga shared that she was “deeply touched.”
“I find it hard to wrap my head around winning an award that celebrates my entire career at just 38,” Gaga stated. “On one hand, it feels like I’ve been in this industry forever, but on the other hand, I know I’m only just beginning. So while society may view a woman in her late thirties as old for a pop star, which is absurd, I assure you that I’m just getting started.”
The singer of “Disease” elaborated, stating, “Innovation isn’t merely about breaking the rules; it’s about creating your own and persuading the world that they have always belonged to them. It’s like arriving at the Grammys in an egg or crafting a song that everyone deemed too controversial until it became an undeniable hit. After three decades in this industry, I’ve realized that the most impactful innovation comes from being true to yourself.”
Gaga reflected on how, as the only woman in the room, the voice in her head urged her not to “settle.”
“Tonight, I remember my grandmothers, strong and brilliant Italian-American women who transformed their lives through sheer strength, dreams, and determination,” she shared. “They may not have invented technology or art, but they created possibilities, shaping the future with their intellect. Those women, my ancestors, are the most remarkable women I’ve ever known.”
She then honored her influences, mentioning icons like David Bowie, Grace Jones, Carole King, Elton John, Lady Starlight, Madonna, Stevie Wonder, Duke Ellington, Cher, and her “dear friend Tony Bennett, who taught me to appreciate the classics while never being confined by them.”
The “Killah” artist expressed her gratitude to her “little monsters” and the LGBTQ+ community for their unwavering support throughout the years.
“To the LGBTQ+ community, you showed me what bravery looks like before the world was ready to acknowledge it. You have made a positive impact on the world, and your strength inspires me every day,” Gaga stated.
“To every artist who has been labeled as ‘different,’ ‘complicated,’ or ‘too much,’ I urge you to stay true to yourself. Break the mold. The world doesn’t need another imitation; it desperately needs your unique voice,” she added.
In addition to receiving the 2025 iHeartRadio Innovator Award, Gaga was also nominated for best collaboration and best music video for “Die with a Smile” featuring Bruno Mars, which won a Grammy Award in February, as well as for favorite on-screen performance for the Gaga Chromatica Ball film.
For complete coverage of the iHeartRadio Music Awards, visit PEOPLE’s website.
The 14-time Grammy winner recently released her album, Mayhem, on March 7, and has been actively promoting it by appearing on popular online shows like Hot Ones and the podcast Las Culturistas.
Gaga was both the host and musical guest on the March 8 episode of Saturday Night Live, where she performed “Abracadabra” and her collaboration with Gesaffelstein, “Killah.”
Mayhem, which topped the Billboard 200 chart upon its release, is the latest album from the singer, following her previous works: The Fame (2008), The Fame Monster (2009), Born This Way (2011), Artpop (2013), Joanne (2016), and Chromatica (2020).
In a statement released with the album, she discussed how this project represents a fresh return to her musical roots. “The album began as I confronted my fear of going back to the pop music that my earliest fans cherished,” she shared.
Gaga further elaborated that the essence of Mayhem resembles “reassembling a shattered mirror: while you may not be able to fit the pieces back together perfectly, you can still create something beautiful and complete in a new way.”
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This year’s iHeartRadio Music Awards will also honor Mariah Carey with the 2025 iHeartRadio Icon Award, Taylor Swift for her record-breaking Eras Tour with the Tour of the Century award, and Nelly, who will receive the 2025 iHeartRadio Landmark Award for artists whose album releases have significantly influenced culture over several decades.
The 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Monday, March 17, at 8 p.m. ET on FOX. Fans can also listen live on iHeartRadio stations across the country and through the iHeartRadio app.