Lady Gaga’s 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards ended with a big win as she accepted the Innovator Award and addressed ageism in music in her powerful speech. After Doechii presented her with one of the most notable honors, Gaga didn’t know how to “think about” winning an award recognizing her two-decades-long run as a pop sensation while in her late 30s, making a subtle ageism dig. Dressed in a gorgeous red dress, she then announced that she was “just getting started” despite being around for what felt like “forever” to her.
Lady Gaga claps back at ageism in music: ‘I’m just getting warmed up’
Clapping back at ageism in music, Lady Gaga delivered an influential acceptance speech at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards. “I don’t know totally how to think about this because winning an award honoring my entire career at 38 years old is a hard thing to get my head around,” she started in her speech after accepting the Innovator Award at the ceremony on Monday. Gaga then highlighted the irony of this by subtly slamming the prejudice with her moving words.
The singer admitted to feeling like she has “been doing this forever” one on hand. But, on the other hand, she announced that she is “just getting started.” Standing strong on her stance, she then remarked that “even though the world might consider a woman in her late 30s old for a pop star,” she promised she was “just getting warmed up.” Gaga also described the ageism as “insane” while promising the world has yet to see more of her innovative music.
Lady Gaga’s iHeartRadio 2025 achievement came two weeks after she released her latest album “Mayhem.” Billboard reported that the album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with some of her best works to date. Moreover, it consists of her Grammy-winning track with Bruno Mars, “Die with a Smile,” as the final track.
