Last night’s iHeartRadio Music Awards was a celebration of the biggest hits on the radio in the last year, but it really was just an excuse to watch some of music’s biggest stars all together, from Lady Gaga and Mariah Carey to Billie Eilish and Bad Bunny. No complaints there, one of my biggest criticisms of music award shows in the last decade has been the lack of star power, but last night included some of the top stars in music across generations. While the show definitely had that People’s Choice Awards feel where you know everyone present was a winner, it had a level of satire that felt nostalgic in the best way. 

 

Lady Gaga was honoured with the Innovator Award by none other than Doechii. There’s no one better to bestow the honour on Gaga than the artist whose own innovation has catapulted her to superstardom in a matter of months (plus or minus a few years, she explains it all here). Doechii represents millions of queer artists around the world who have felt inspired and motivated by the music and messages that Lady Gaga has been sending our way for decades. Having an entertainer like Doechii who is having a moment most artists only dream about say that your music paved the way for them is a testament to the strong legacy Gaga is continuing to craft. 

 

 

Not only did Gaga’s speech honour her LGBTQ+ fan base, she also acknowledged something that I feel very passionately about: ageism and sexism towards female pop stars. During her speech she says, “The world might consider a woman in her late-30s “old” for a pop star which is insane, I promise that I’m just getting warmed up”. I know that’s right. Gaga is 17 years into her professional career and just released one of her strongest albums. If anything, all age has done to Gaga is make her better, which is the case the majority of the time and it’s time we as a society embrace that. 

https://x.com/stevenartpop/status/1901796880012410952

Billie Eilish was the big winner with Album of the Year for her pop smash HIT ME HARD AND SOFT. She started out the night with a laid-back performance of “Wildflower”, a song that was always a favourite of mine from her record. Billie lost all of her Grammys so the general outpour of love felt like a redemption. Not that she needs one given how many damn awards she already has, but that’s beside the point, lol. She even presented Gracie Abrams with the Breakthrough Award. Gracie calling Billie Eilish an icon was interesting to me as I thought that term didn’t apply to relatively newer artists? Maybe I’m just getting older. It was in that moment where it truly hit me that I am no longer in in the age of iHeartRadio’s main demographic.

https://x.com/im2expensive/status/1901799234854097039
 

Onto a segment of the show that absolutely is my demographic, the legendary diva herself: Mariah Carey and the Icon Award, joining the ranks of Cher, Pink, Elton John, Bon Jovi and Jennifer Lopez (whom she does not know). 

 

Before we get to the award though, let’s talk about the hard launch. Mariah and Anderson.Paak. was not the couple I would’ve imagined, but I am so here for it. He not only sat with her and her kids in the front row, but he walked her up to the podium. If the years of Bryan Tanaka were an indication of anything, it’s that once you hold Mariah’s hand to the stage, you’re locked in baby. The two have been seen together out a few times since last year, and his cryptic IG posts have hinted to a relationship, but it seems they just pulled a Kylie and Timothée on us and made it award show official. Mimi’s found her Dreamlover you guys! 

As a lifelong lamb, everything about Mariah’s appearance was perfect. Let’s start with the lighting, because if there’s one thing our queen has made very clear for decades, it’s that she does not f-ck with bad lighting (and why should she?). I knew from her facial expressions in the audience during the fabulous tribute performance (by Muni Long and Tori Kelly) that she had an issue with the lighting, it’s like a sixth sense I have. Many people online thought she was shading Muni Long or Tori but I’m here to tell you the tea, it was the lighting. Mariah is the one who taught me to never be seen in overhead lighting, you can imagine my horror every time I step into an elevator or grocery store. Sure enough, the first words out of her mouth on stage were about the lighting, and were delivered in such a fashion only Mariah could do. 

 

It wouldn’t be Mariah without some form of shade, and last night’s stray was none other than her ex-husband Tommy Mottola whom Mariah referred to as “some other guy” when talking about iHeartRadio president John Sykes who also happened to be her first manager. I love a full circle moment, but I especially love a shady comment towards Mottola (read Mariah’s memoir, and you will understand why). Did she seem a little over it? Mariah was being Mariah, so yes lol and I couldn’t imagine it any other way. The new divas could never.

Finally, the pièce de resistance of the evening and every evening he attends was Bad Bunny. Benito slayed his hard-hitting performance of “EoO” off his hit album DtMF that was complete with bedazzled jeans and an orchestrated dive into the crowd of dancers on the stage. Nothing gets me more hyped than a good ol’ crowd surf. He brought his signature swagger and sex appeal, closing out the show on a high. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNmhovlfDNA

 

 

Yesterday was a big day for Benito as he also was announced as the latest spokesperson for Calvin Klein in what I’m sure is about to become one of the most legendary campaigns the brand has seen in years (thank me later). What’s truly astonishing however about Bad Bunny’s North American success is that he hasn’t had to succumb to the inevitable English album. Bad Bunny’s discography is in Spanish, and his latest album is one of the top selling albums in America. I mean, he’s literally closing out a radio awards show. 

https://x.com/AleniHernandez/status/1901836119375044666

It’s amazing to watch artists like Bad Bunny, Gaga, Doechii and Billie Eilish take their artistry to heights I don’t even think they knew existed, but it’s even more compelling to see how far American radio has come in the years since “Icon Award” winner Mariah Carey’s debut. The rules of what is acceptable on top 40 radio are slowly melting away, and seeing it showcased in a fun two-hour telecast is always a great way to spend a Monday evening.

 

Lady Gaga, Doechii, Billie Eilish, Finneas, Gracie Abrams, Mariah Carey, and Bad Bunny attended the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles on March 17, 2025.
Photo credits: John Salangsang/ Chelsea Lauren/ Frank Micelotta/ PictureGroup for FOX/ Shutterstock

Share this post