Lady Gaga Calls Out ‘Ageism’ In Music Industry While Accepting Innovator Award At iHeartRadio Music Awards

March 18, 2025: At the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards, Lady Gaga was honored with the Innovator Award, where she used her acceptance speech to address the ageism that women in pop music often face. The event took place on March 17 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, and Gaga, 38, reflected on her career, the challenges of being a woman in the music industry, and her dedication to innovation and authenticity.

In her emotional speech, Lady Gaga shared her thoughts on the pressures of aging in the public eye, especially in pop culture, where women are often considered “too old” as they enter their late thirties. “I don’t totally know how to think about this because winning an award honoring my entire career at 38 years old is a hard thing to get my head around,” she admitted. “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 to be old for a pop star, which is insane, I promise that I’m just getting warmed up.”

Gaga also spoke about the true meaning of innovation, emphasizing that it isn’t about breaking rules but rather creating one’s own path and convincing the world that those new rules were always meant to be. She reflected on her groundbreaking moments, such as her iconic Grammys performance in an egg and creating controversial yet undeniable anthems that became global hits.

Furthermore, Lady Gaga paid tribute to her grandmothers, describing them as “fiercely brilliant Italian-American women” who defied expectations and created their own opportunities in life through strength and resilience. She credited them for showing her the true power of determination and dreams, stating, “They didn’t invent technology or art; they invented possibility, shaping the future with nothing more than their minds.”

In addition to receiving the Innovator Award, Lady Gaga was nominated in several categories at the ceremony. She earned nods for Best Collaboration and Best Music Video for her song “Die with a Smile” featuring Bruno Mars, which won a Grammy in February. Gaga was also recognized in the Favorite On-Screen category for her Chromatica Ball concert film.