Lady Gaga Slams Ageism and Embraces Authenticity While Accepting 2025 iHeartRadio Innovator Award: ‘I’m Just Getting Warmed Up’

At 38, Gaga Reflects on Her Legacy, Champions the LGBTQ+ Community, and Vows to Keep Breaking Boundaries in Her Career

LOS ANGELES — March 17, 2025: The iHeartRadio Music Awards held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles saw one of the most powerful moments of the night as Lady Gaga, 38, was honored with the Innovator Award, a tribute to her decades of groundbreaking contributions to music, art, and culture. The pop icon, known for her fierce individuality and boundary-pushing persona, took the stage to not only accept the prestigious award but also deliver an impassioned speech on ageism, authenticity, and her undying commitment to innovation.

Gaga, ever the trailblazer, began her speech with humility and gratitude, acknowledging the overwhelming honor of receiving a career-spanning award at just 38 years old. “Winning an award honoring my entire career at 38 years old is a hard thing to get my head around,” she confessed. “On the one hand, I feel like I’ve been doing this forever, and on the other hand, I know I’m just getting started. So even though the world might consider a woman in her late thirties old for a pop star, which is insane, I promise that I’m just getting warmed up.”

Challenging Ageism in Pop Music

Gaga’s comments about ageism in the music industry were bold and empowering. In an era where female pop stars are often pressured to “fade away” after a certain age, Gaga stood strong as an advocate for her generation of artists and women. Her words served as a reminder that talent and creativity don’t have an expiration date, and that authenticity is the most important trait for lasting success in the entertainment world.

She passionately declared, “Innovation isn’t about breaking rules, it’s about writing your own and convincing the world they were theirs all along. Like showing up to the Grammys in an egg or creating an anthem that everyone told us was too controversial until it became undeniable. If I have learned anything in three decades I’ve been at this, it’s that the most powerful innovation is your authenticity.”

Honoring Her Legacy and Inspirations

While receiving the award, Lady Gaga took a moment to reflect on her roots and the women who shaped her. She spoke fondly of her Italian-American grandmothers, whom she credited as her greatest role models. “They didn’t invent technology or art, they invented possibility, shaping the future with nothing more than their minds,” she said. “Those women, my ancestors, are the greatest women I’ve ever known.”

Gaga also paid tribute to the icons who influenced her career, including David Bowie, Grace Jones, Carole King, Elton John, Madonna, Cher, and Stevie Wonder. She also acknowledged her dear friend Tony Bennett, whose classic approach to music taught her to embrace the timeless while never being confined by it.

A Heartfelt Tribute to the LGBTQ+ Community

Gaga’s connection to the LGBTQ+ community has been a cornerstone of her career, and she didn’t miss the opportunity to thank the community for its unwavering support over the years. “To the LGBTQ+ community, you taught me bravery before the world was ready to listen. You have changed the world for the better, and your courage fuels mine every day,” she said, her voice filled with emotion.

Her relationship with her “little monsters”—the loyal fans who have followed her since her early days in the spotlight—was also a central theme in her speech. “And to every artist who has 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.” Gaga’s words resonated with artists and fans alike, reinforcing the importance of embracing individuality and never compromising one’s true self.

A New Chapter: ‘Mayhem’ and the Ongoing Evolution of Lady Gaga

In addition to receiving the Innovator Award, Lady Gaga was also nominated for multiple awards at the ceremony, including Best Collaboration and Best Music Video for her hit single “Die with a Smile” featuring Bruno Mars, which earned them a Grammy Award in February 2025. She also earned a nomination for Favorite On-Screen for her Chromatica Ball film.

Gaga’s creative journey continues with the release of her latest album, Mayhem, which debuted atop the Billboard 200 chart on March 7, 2025. “The album started as me facing my fear of returning to the pop music my earliest fans loved,” she shared in a statement. She explained that Mayhem is a reflection of her personal growth and artistic evolution, “reassembling a shattered mirror: even if you can’t put the pieces back together perfectly, you can create something beautiful and whole in its own new way.”

Her appearance on popular shows such as Hot Ones and the podcast Las Culturistas, as well as her Saturday Night Live hosting debut on March 8, demonstrated Gaga’s unyielding commitment to promoting her new music while staying connected to her ever-growing fanbase.

A Celebration of Innovation, Legacy, and Empowerment

Lady Gaga’s Innovator Award was just one of the evening’s many highlights, as she was recognized not only for her musical accomplishments but for her role as a cultural icon, activist, and voice of change. Her acceptance speech underscored the power of authenticity, the importance of artistic freedom, and her dedication to breaking down barriers in an industry that often seeks to limit women, especially as they age.

Other honorees at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards included Mariah Carey, who was awarded the iHeartRadio Icon Award, and Taylor Swift, who took home the Tour of the Century for her record-breaking Eras Tour. Nelly was also honored with the Landmark Award, recognizing his profound influence on music and culture over multiple decades.

As Lady Gaga’s speech concluded with a powerful message of empowerment, it was clear that her legacy is far from complete. At 38, she’s “just getting started,” and the world can expect much more from this groundbreaking artist who continues to inspire and innovate with every move she makes.

Conclusion: A New Era for Lady Gaga

With her latest accolades, including the Innovator Award, and her new album Mayhem leading the charts, Lady Gaga proves once again that her voice is as relevant and powerful as ever. She’s not just breaking boundaries — she’s rewriting the rules of what it means to be a pop icon in the modern world. As she continues to evolve and challenge the status quo, the music industry will undoubtedly be paying close attention to whatever she does next.