Viewers watching the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards may have been surprised to see one of the biggest awards of the night, Artist of the Year, become the first to be announced live during the Sunday, September 7, night ceremony. Well, it turns out there was an important reason behind that decision.

Lady Gaga was announced as the winner of the honor. After celebrating with Ariana Grande, whom she was seated next to in the audience, she took the stage to give an acceptance speech, during which she spoke directly to her fans and gave fiancé Michael Polansky a special shoutout.

At the end of her time on stage, she said she would love to stick around and watch the rest of the night’s performances, but noted that she had to get “back to Madison Square Garden.” Gaga is currently in the midst of her Mayhem Ball tour and has her final MSG show on the same night as the VMAs. She finished her speech around 8:15/7:15c, and then seemingly rushed back to New York City to perform for her fans.

The VMAs took place at UBS Arena, which is on Long Island. The estimated driving time to Madison Square Garden as of press time is about 40 minutes. According to fans who have attended the Mayhem Ball tour, Gaga usually takes the stage between 8:40 and 9, so while she may be a bit later than usual due to her VMAs appearance (she estimated a 9:30 start time), the show should go on as planned, assuming there are no hiccups in transit! After all, this is Lady Gaga … she can probably get some sort of police escort, right?!

Later in the night, Gaga will also be performing during the VMAs, but her set was pre-recorded at a previous Madison Square Garden show on the tour. Her performance is expected to include “Abracadabra” and “The Dead Dance.”

The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards delivered plenty of surprises, but perhaps the biggest twist of the night came when Artist of the Year was announced right at the start of the ceremony. Typically one of the final awards, the early reveal left viewers buzzing — and for good reason. Lady Gaga, who is currently in the middle of her blockbuster Mayhem Ball tour, was crowned the winner and had to juggle two massive stages in one night.

After her name was called, Gaga shared a sweet moment with Ariana Grande, her seatmate for the evening, before heading to the stage. Her acceptance speech struck the perfect balance of gratitude and intimacy, as she thanked her fans for their unwavering support and gave a special shoutout to her fiancé, Michael Polansky. Ever the consummate performer, Gaga made it clear that even on one of music’s biggest nights, her fans and her personal life remain at the heart of everything she does.

But Gaga’s speech also revealed why the award had to be announced so early. Wrapping up her remarks around 8:15/7:15c, she told the audience that as much as she’d love to stay for the rest of the show, she needed to get “back to Madison Square Garden.” The pop icon was scheduled to perform the final New York City date of her Mayhem Ball tour that very same night.

Logistically, the timeline was tight. The VMAs took place at UBS Arena in Long Island, and the drive to Madison Square Garden in Manhattan typically runs about 40 minutes. Fans familiar with Gaga’s tour noted that she usually takes the stage between 8:40 and 9 p.m., which meant she would be cutting it close — though Gaga herself estimated she’d be on by 9:30. If anyone could pull it off, it’s Gaga, and fans were quick to joke online about the possibility of a police escort or VIP motorcade to ensure she arrived on time.

The moment underscored the sheer scale of Gaga’s current career moment, balancing her role as a global pop superstar with her reputation as one of the most ambitious live performers in the industry. Winning Artist of the Year while dashing between the VMAs and her own headlining tour stop is a feat only a handful of artists could manage. It also highlighted how central the Mayhem Ball has become to her 2025 narrative, as the tour has already been hailed as one of her most extravagant productions yet.

Though Gaga couldn’t stick around for the rest of the ceremony in person, fans won’t miss out on seeing her perform. Later in the show, her VMA performance will air — a pre-recorded segment filmed during an earlier Madison Square Garden concert. The set is expected to feature “Abracadabra” and “The Dead Dance,” two standout tracks from her latest era, ensuring viewers still get a taste of her theatrical energy even if she’s performing simultaneously across town.

The early award reveal may have surprised viewers, but in the end, it was a fitting way to celebrate Gaga’s monumental year. Between her historic tour, a new chapter in her personal life with Polansky, and her continued dominance on the awards stage, Gaga’s night at the VMAs perfectly encapsulated her unstoppable momentum. It was a rare case where the biggest award of the night came early — but for an artist constantly rewriting the rules, it felt exactly right.