Ariana Grande Expresses Gratitude to Therapist at the 2025 VMAs
Ariana Grande acknowledged some truly important individuals during her acceptance speech at the 2025 MTV Music Video Awards.
The 32-year-old artist won the Best Pop award for her song “Brighter Days Ahead” at the ceremony held on Sunday, September 7, at UBS Arena in New York.
“I want to extend my gratitude first and foremost to my fans. I love you with every part of my being. Thank you, MTV,” Grande expressed in her speech. “A special thanks to my dad, who made his acting debut in this video and is the greatest scene partner and father anyone could ask for.”
Grande emphasized that “it takes a village” to produce a music video and wanted to acknowledge everyone involved, from the video director and producers to the lighting crew and art department. After mentioning countless roles, including grips and craft services, she concluded her speech with a heartfelt shout-out to some special people in her life.
“Thanks to my therapist and the LGBTQ+ community. I love you all,” she concluded.
Alongside Best Pop, Grande also won awards for Video of the Year and Best Long Form Video, while receiving nominations for Best Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Visual Effects.
Additionally, Grande presented the Video Vanguard Award to Mariah Carey during the event.
“As a vocalist, there’s only one queen, and that’s Mariah,” Grande said while introducing Carey. “Her iconic five-octave range knows no limits, and she has made an indelible mark on music history with her tone, technique, and sound. Her music videos have become the pop playbook, showcasing everything from alter egos to male drag and countless iconic looks. Mariah Carey is a one-of-a-kind talent and artist.”
This year, Grande also released the deluxe edition of her 2024 album, Eternal Sunshine, featuring the original 13 tracks along with six bonus tracks. Last month, she announced her upcoming Eternal Sunshine Tour scheduled for next year.
“See you next year ♡ 🧸,” she shared on Instagram alongside a post detailing tour dates.
This will mark Grande’s first tour in six years, following her 2019 Sweetener Tour.
In addition to her music career, Grande has been busy portraying Glinda in Wicked, with the second installment, titled For Good, set to premiere in theaters on November 21.
“This experience feels like a homecoming for me,” she mentioned during a November 2024 interview with Australian reporter Justin Hill. “Through what I learned from Glinda [and] Elphaba, I feel like I returned to myself in many ways. I saw the show when I was 10 years old, and it feels like a lovely way to honor that. It’s been a full circle moment for me, and it’s something I truly wanted to do.”
