- The IHeartRadio Music Awards were on 17 March
- Performers included Billie Eilish and Bad Bunny
- Winners included Taylor Swift and Mariah Carey
The IHeartRadio Music Awards were held on 17 March and at the award show there were some great moments. Mariah Carey will always be a diva, Gracie Abrams is a rising star, and Ashanti and Nelly were adorable.
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The annual award show may not be as big as others, but it always shows out with the performers. The IHeartRadio Awards had Billie Eilish, Gracie Abrams, Nelly, and Tori Kelly performing. There were some big awards for Carey and Lady Gaga, honoring their contributions to music. Naturally, the acceptance speeches have triggered some heartfelt moments.
Here are all the best moments from the award show!
1. Lady Gaga wins iHeartRadio Innovator Award
Lady Gaga has just released her new studio album Mayhem. Gaga has been busy in recent years with acting but has made her musical reneassinece. At this year’s awards, she received the honorable iHeartRadio Innovator Award.
The award was presented by new breakout artist Doechii, who has gone viral for her songs Alligator Bites Never Heal and Anxiety. On Gaga, the rapper spoke about the singer’s impact on her. Doechii said: ” A kid that identified as an artist, as queer, and as a little Monster, Lady Gaga wasn’t just a pop star, she was a lifeline.”
The 38-year-old received her award from Doechii and called her an “innovator”.
At 38, Gaga said it was “hard to get her head around” receiving the award at that age, but she promises she is “just getting started” in her career. Speaking about the word innovation, Gaga told stories of how she would not compromise herself as an artist and woman.
To other artists, she said: “Every artist who’s ever been told they’re different, complicated or too much — please, never change. Break the mold. The world doesn’t need another copy, it desperately needs your original.”
Lady Gaga’s full ‘Innovator Award’ acceptance speech at the iHeartRadio Music Awards. pic.twitter.com/cz3otpxWjk
— GⱯGⱯ THROWBⱯCKS (@ThrowbacksGaga) March 18, 2025
2. Billie Eilish introducing Gracie Abrams at the IHeartRadio Music Awards
This year Abrams has had immense success with her Secret Of Us album and tour. Songs such as That’s So True have been at the top of the charts. At the IHeartRadio Awards, the That’s So True singer received the Breakthrough Award.
Billie Eilish introducing Gracie at the @iHeartRadio Music Awards tonight ♥️ pic.twitter.com/Tup5SEtxCx
— Gracie Abrams Updates (@GracieAbrUpdate) March 18, 2025
Introducing Abrams Eilish said: “I have known Gracie Abrams since I was 15 years old. When we started sending each other little voice memos of songs we were writing at the time. She was always so encouraging to me when I started putting music out. I love that girl so much. I have loved watching her finally take over the world in the last year.”
Abrams affectionately accepted the award from her friend, calling her an “icon.”
We love to see girls supporting girls!
3. Mariah Carey’s entire presence at the IHeartRadio Music Awards
Carey doesn’t defrost at Christmas, she also defrosts when she receives an award. The All I Want for Christmas is You singer received the Icon Award at the 2025 IHeartRadio Music Awards. The stunning icon was caught side-eyeing someone before going on-stage. Watchers speculated she may’ve been side-eyeing the performance by Muni Long, who performed Carey’s We Belong Together as a tribute to the singer.
However, Carey still stole the show. She began her speech by asking: “Is the lighting okay, because I don’t like bad lighting.” As much of a diva as Carey can be, her speech was very heartfelt. The legendary songstress expressed she still gets excited hearing her songs on the radio and gave a heartfelt tribute to her late mother Patricia Carey. In late August 2024, Carey lost her mother and her sister Alison on the same day.
“On this Saint Patrick’s Day, I want to honor my mother Patricia Carey for giving me the gift of music,” Carey finished her speech.
4. Ashanti surprises Nelly on stage
Back in the 2000s, Ashanti and Nelly were an R&B power couple. Nelly is best known for songs like Hot in Herre. Meanwhile, Ashanti had risen to fame with her 2001 hit Foolish and collaborated with her future husband on Body On Me in 2008. In 2003, Nelly and Ashanti began dating. They broke up in 2013 and reunited in 2023 when they got married. In July 2024, the couple’s first child was born.
At the ceremony, Ashanti introduced Nelly with his landmark award.
Prior to her speech, she took the stage in surprise to introduce him. “Okay, so he did not know that I was coming up here; he thought I just went to the bathroom,” Ashanti said.
Ashanti celebrated Nelly’s legendary Country Grammar album and called him her “husband” and “soulmate.”
Ashanti announcing Nelly and going “my hussssbandddddd” pic.twitter.com/Vo7B9pq1HY
— kristen⸆⸉💚 (@perfectlyfine89) March 18, 2025
5. Taylor Swift dominating all the Iheart Radio Music Awards
Swifties were happy on award night because Taylor Swift dominated the IHeartRadio Music Awards. The Fortnight singer recieved the Tour of The Century award for her Eras Tour, which ended in December 2024. Most importantly, she took home the Artist of The Year Award.
She didn’t attend the ceremony but thanked fans in a virtual video. Swift said: “I really can’t tell you how much this means to me because I accept this on behalf of all my tourmates, my band, everyone who toured with us, our crew.”
The 35-year-old reflected on the grueling challenge of the three-and-a-half-hour shows at the Eras Tour. She thanked her fans. After her speech, she debuted an exclusive performance of her singing Mirrorball at one of the first Eras Tour shows.
🚨| Full performance of “mirrorball” from the opening night of “The Eras Tour”.
— Taylor Swift Updates (@TSUpdating) March 18, 2025
pic.twitter.com/XCCpYkwIvh
6. Benson Boone’s memeable reaction to winning Song of The Year
Benson Boone is a fairly new artist who blew up last year with his powerful song Beautiful Things. The pop singer has since released his debut album Fireworks & Rollerblades. At this year’s awards, he became better known for his memable reaction to winning Song of The Year. Unsurprisingly, it was a hilarious moment.
Boone slowly takes off his sunglasses showing his wide eyes looking shocked that his song Beautiful Things won the award. He turns to the person next to him and makes a surprised face with his mouth open which makes for a hilarious reaction image online. The singer jumps up with a grin and heads to the stage where he asks everyone how they are doing. Casual, right?
Not everyone was happy with the funny moment a fan recorded the moment and posted on X, “I’m beyond irritated”.
i’m beyond irritated. pic.twitter.com/AIEQod47oB
— caleigh ⋆. 𝄞 .⋆ (@caleighs_comet) March 18, 2025
So the internet wasn’t happy about Boone’s win, but he was, and that’s all that matters!
