James JohnsonSinger Wins Three Awards and Honors Fans, Team, and Collaborators in Emotional Acceptance Speech
Ariana Grande delivered an unforgettable moment at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, September 7, as she accepted the award for Best Pop for her song “Brighter Days Ahead.” The 32-year-old singer, who took home three awards in total, used her acceptance speech to express gratitude to fans, collaborators, and even unexpected supporters, in a heartfelt and candid moment on stage.
“I have to start by saying thank you so much to my fans. I’m gonna cry. I love you with every fiber of my being. Thank you, MTV,” Grande told the audience. She also gave a special shout-out to her father, Edward Butera, who made his acting debut in the music video. “He is the best scene partner and dad in the world,” she added.
Grande went on to acknowledge her entire creative team, including director Christian Breslauer, producers, editors, designers, and the full music video “village,” praising them for bringing her artistic vision to life. “Oh my goodness, you guys. You are the best in the world. These videos that mean so much and define us as artists forever take a village,” she said.
Not shying away from personal gratitude, Grande also thanked her songwriting team and collaborators: “Thank you for championing me as a songwriter and producer as well. I love you so much. And thank you to my therapist and gay people. I love you.”
The award-winning video, “Brighter Days Ahead,” was released alongside Eternal Sunshine Deluxe, a 26-minute project in which Grande portrays an older version of herself who reconnects with her younger self to relive cherished and challenging memories.
Earlier this month, Grande announced her Eternal Sunshine Tour across North America and the U.K. in 2026. Sharing the tour poster on Instagram, she captioned it, “see you next year ♡ 🧸.”
The 2025 MTV VMAs, hosted by LL Cool J, showcased electrifying performances from Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter, Sombr, Alex Warren, J Balvin featuring DJ Snake, Post Malone, Doja Cat, Jelly Roll, Conan Gray, and Tate McRae. Grande herself received seven nominations, walking away with three prestigious awards: Best Pop, Video of the Year, and Best Long Form Video, solidifying her place among the night’s standout artists.
