MTV Video Music Awards: Ariana Grande wins with "Brighter Days Ahead"

Visibly moved as she accepted her award, the most prestigious of the evening, the 32-year-old singer-songwriter and actress extended a long thank you to her fans, who were "so fiercely loving and supportive." "Thank you for growing with me and being so understanding of me as a human being," she said. Earlier, receiving a first prize, she also thanked "(her) therapist and gay people."

Another artist who received a lot of recognition during the evening was Lady Gaga, who interrupted a series of concerts to come and accept the award for Artist of the Year on stage in Elmont, New York. She also won the award for Best Collaboration, with Bruno Mars for the song "Die with a Smile."

The 39-year-old singer was competing for the Best Artist statuette with other industry heavyweights like Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift and The Weeknd.

Singer Rosé, who is pursuing a solo career after breaking out with the K-pop group Blackpink, won Song of the Year for her track "APT," also written with Bruno Mars. Sabrina Carpenter won Album of the Year for "Short n' Sweet."

The evening was often marked by a somewhat nostalgic aesthetic and performances, with the presence on stage of fifty-year-olds Mariah Carey, Busta Rhymes and Ricky Martin and choreographies borrowing heavily from the 1980s and 1990s, notably from young artists Doja Cat and Tate McRae.

Rapper Kendrick Lamar, the big winner at the last Grammy Awards, where he won five prizes, left empty-handed, despite being nominated in several categories.