The iHeartRadio Music Awards on Monday night were a starry affair that honored both new and veteran music stars. Mariah Carey and Lady Gaga were both present to receive special awards recognizing their decades-long careers in entertainment, while SZA took home the R&B artist of the year award for a third year. Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things” was also named song of the year.
Presenting Gaga as innovator of the year, Doechii referred to the former as “a lifeline” to her childhood, seeing that she identifies “as an artist, as queer and as a ‘little monster.’” Gaga returned the favor, also lauding Doechii as an innovator.
She thanked her inspirations — “David Bowie, Grace Jones, Carole King, Elton John, Lady Starlight, Madonna, Stevie Wonder, Duke Ellington, Cher and of course, my dear friend Tony Bennett, who taught me to embrace the classics but never be bound by them.”
Billie Eilish is a highly popular and talented singer-songwriter. Known for her unique style and captivating voice, she has taken the music industry by storm. Eilish has won multiple Grammy Awards and has a massive following of dedicated fans.
“Winning an award honoring my entire career at 38 years old is a hard thing to get my head around,” Gaga noted. “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. Even though 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. Innovation isn’t about breaking rules. It’s about writing your own and convincing the world they were theirs all along.”
Carey was honored with the icon award and a medley of her songs performed by Tori Kelly and Muni Long. Though she didn’t appear on stage to sing, Carey did accept the award in style, making sure the lighting was hitting her in all the right places — “Is the lighting okay, because I don’t like bad lighting,” she joked while getting adjusted on stage.
Carey also honored her late mother, saying “On this Saint Patrick’s Day, I want to honor my mother Patricia Carey for giving me the gift of music.” Carey’s mother and sister Alison both died in August.
Billie EIlish introduced Gracie Abrams as the breakthrough artist of the year ahead of the latter’s performance of “That’s So True.” Eilish recalled meeting Abrams at 15 years old, noting that they would send each other voice notes of songs they were working on.
One of the standout aspects of Billie Eilish’s music is her ability to blend genres seamlessly. Her songs often feature elements of pop, electronic, and alternative music, creating a sound that is all her own. Eilish’s lyrics are introspective and thought-provoking, resonating with listeners of all ages.
Billie Eilish, Gracie Abrams at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards held at the Dolby Theatre on March 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Christoper Polk
“You’re just an icon, and I’ve looked up to you since we met,” responded Abrams. “Not just an icon because of your success, but your artistry — I just love you to death.” Abrams also acknowledged “we’re living in tricky times,” but when “we gather like this at a concert or a festival or the theater within our local communities we remind each other that there’s still so much light and kindness between and among us.”
LL Cool J returned as a host with performers Bad Bunny, Glorilla, Kenny Chesney and Nelly, among others.
WINNERS
Artist of the Year
In addition to her musical talent, Billie Eilish is also known for her distinctive fashion sense. Often seen sporting unique outfits and bold hair colors, she has become a style icon for many young people. Eilish’s fashion choices reflect her creativity and willingness to break boundaries.
Doja Cat
Jelly Roll
Kendrick Lamar
Morgan Wallen
Post Malone
Sabrina Carpenter
SZA
WINNER: Taylor Swift
Teddy Swims
Song of the Year
“A Bar Song (Tipsy)”- Shaboozey
“Agora Hills”- Doja Cat
WINNER: “Beautiful Things”- Benson Boone
“Espresso” – Sabrina Carpenter
“Greedy”- Tate McRae
“I Had Some Help” – Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen
“Lose Control” – Teddy Swims
“Lovin on Me” – Jack Harlow
“Not Like Us”- Kendrick Lamar
“Too Sweet” – Hozier
Best Collaboration
WINNER: “Die With a Smile”- Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars
“Fortnight”- Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone
“I Had Some Help”- Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen
“Like That” – Future, Metro Boomin and Kendrick Lamar
“Miles on It”- Kane Brown and Marshmello
Producer of the Year
WINNER: Julian Bunetta
Jack Antonoff
Evan Blair
Mustard
Dan Nigro
Songwriter of the Year
Josh Coleman
Ernest
Ashley Gorley
WINNER: Amy Allen
Justin Tranter
Pop Song of the Year
“Agora Hills”- Doja Cat
“Beautiful Things”- Benson Boone
WINNER: “Espresso”- Sabrina Carpenter
“Greedy”- Tate McRae
“Too Sweet”- Hozier
Pop Artist of the Year
Billie Eilish
Chappell Roan
WINNER: Sabrina Carpenter
Tate McRae
Taylor Swift
Best New Artist (Pop)
Benson Boone
Chappell Roan
Gracie Abrams
Shaboozey
WINNER: Teddy Swims
Country Song of the Year
“A Bar Song (Tipsy)”- Shaboozey
“Cowgirls” – Morgan Wallen featuring Ernest
“I Am Not Okay”- Jelly Roll
WINNER: “I Had Some Help” – Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen
“World on Fire”- Nate Smith
Country Artist of the Year
WINNER: Jelly Roll
Kane Brown
Lainey Wilson
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Best New Artist (Country)
Ashley Cooke
Dasha
George Birge
WINNER: Shaboozey
Tucker Wetmore
Hip-Hop Song of the Year
“Like That”- Future, Metro Boomin and Kendrick Lamar
“Lovin on Me”- Jack Harlow
WINNER: “Not Like Us”- Kendrick Lamar
“Rich Baby Daddy”- Drake featuring Sexyy Red and SZA
“TGIF” – GloRilla
Hip-Hop Artist of the Year
Drake
Future
WINNER: GloRilla
Kendrick Lamar
Travis Scott
Best New Artist (Hip-Hop)
310babii
BigXthaPlug
WINNER: BossMan Dlow
Cash Cobain
Jordan Adetunji
R&B Song of the Year
“ICU” – Coco Jones
WINNER: “Made for Me”- Muni Long
“Sensational” – Chris Brown featuring Davido and Lojay
“Water” – Tyla
“WY@”- Brent Faiyaz
R&B Artist of the Year
Chris Brown
Muni Long
WINNER: SZA
Usher
Victoria Monét
Best New Artist (R&B)
WINNER: 4Batz
Ambré
Inayah
Josh X
Maeta
Alternative Song of the Year
“Dilemma” – Green Day
“Landmines” – Sum 41
“Neon Pill”- Cage The Elephant
“The Emptiness Machine” – Linkin Park
WINNER: “Too Sweet”- Hozier
Alternative Artist of the Year
Cage The Elephant
WINNER: Green Day
Linkin Park
Sum 41
twenty one pilots
Best New Artist (Alt and Rock)
Djo
WINNER: Fontaines D.C.
Good Neighbours
Myles Smith
The Last Dinner Party
Rock Song of the Year
WINNER: “A Symptom of Being Human” – Shinedown
“All My Life” – Falling In Reverse and Jelly Roll
“Dark Matter” – Pearl Jam
“Screaming Suicide” – Metallica
“The Emptiness Machine” – Linkin Park
Rock Artist of the Year
Green Day
Linkin Park
Metallica
Pearl Jam
WINNER: Shinedown
Dance Song of the Year
WINNER: “360” – Charli xcx
“Chase It (Mmm Da Da Da)” – Bebe Rexha
“I Don’t Wanna Wait”- David Guetta and OneRepublic
“Make You Mine”- Madison Beer
“Water” – Tyla X Marshmello
Dance Artist of the Year
Calvin Harris
WINNER: David Guetta
Dua Lipa
Kylie Minogue
Tiësto
Latin Pop / Urban Song of the Year
“Brickell” – FEID X Yandel
“LA FALDA” – Myke Towers
WINNER: “Perro Negro”- Bad Bunny featuring FEID
“Qlona” – Karol G featuring Peso Pluma
“Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”- Karol G
Latin Pop / Urban Artist of the Year
Bad Bunny
WINNER: FEID
Karol G
Myke Towers
Shakira
Best New Artist (Latin Pop / Urban)
Christian Alicea
Cris MJ
Ela Taubert
FloyyMenor
WINNER: Kapo
Regional Mexican Song of the Year
WINNER: “Alch Si” – Grupo Frontera and Carin León
“El Beneficio De La Duda” – Grupo Firme
“FIRST LOVE” – Oscar Ortiz and Edgardo Nuñez
“La Diabla”- Xavi
“Tu Perfume” – Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Regional Mexican Artist of the Year
Grupo Frontera
Intocable
Los Ángeles Azules
WINNER: Peso Pluma
Xavi
Best New Artist (Regional Mexican)
Chino Pacas
Iván Cornejo
Luis R. Conriquez
Tito Double P
WINNER: Xavi
K-pop Artist of the Year
aespa
WINNER: ATEEZ
ENHYPEN
Jimin
Lisa
K-pop Song of the Year
“Chk Chk Boom” – Stray Kids
“Magnetic”- ILLIT
“Supernova” – aespa
WINNER: “Who”- Jimin
“XO (Only If You Say Yes)”- ENHYPEN
Best New Artist (K-pop)
BABYMONSTER
BADVILLAIN
WINNER: ILLIT
NCT WISH
TWS
World Artist of the Year
Burna Boy
Central Cee
Tems
WINNER: Tyla
YG Marley
SOCIALLY VOTED CATEGORIES
Favorite Soundtrack
Back to Black
Bad Boys: Ride or Die
Bob Marley: One Love
Challengers
Deadpool & Wolverine
Descendants: The Rise of Red
Emilia Pérez
The Book of Clarence
Twisters
WINNER: Wicked
Favorite Broadway Debut
Adam Lambert – Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Ariana Madix – Chicago
Barbie Ferreira – Cult of Love
Charli D’Amelio – & Juliet
Grant Gustin – Water for Elephants
Kit Connor – Romeo + Juliet
Lola Tung – Hadestown
Nicole Scherzinger – Sunset Blvd
WINNER: Rachel Zegler – Romeo + Juliet
Robert Downey Jr. – McNeal
Sebastián Yatra – Chicago
Shailene Woodley – Cult of Love
Favorite K-pop Dance Challenge
WINNER: “GGUM”- Yeonjun (TXT)
“MAESTRO” – Seventeen
“Magnetic”- ILLIT
“Smart”- LE SSERAFIM
“Sticky”- Kiss of Life
“Supernova” – aespa
“Touch” – KATSEYE
“UP”- Karina (aespa)
“WORK”- ATEEZ
“XO (Only If You Say Yes)”- ENHYPEN
Favorite Surprise Guest
Charli xcx bringing out Lorde
Coldplay bringing out Selena Gomez
Future & Metro Boomin bringing out Travis Scott
GloRilla & Megan Thee Stallion bringing out Cardi B
Jennifer Hudson bringing out Cher
Kendrick Lamar bringing out Ken & Friends
Luke Combs bringing out the “Twisters” Cast
Morgan Wallen bringing out Travis Kelce & Patrick Mahomes
Niall Horan bringing out Shawn Mendes
Olivia Rodrigo bringing out Chappell Roan
Peso Pluma bringing out Becky G
WINNER: Taylor Swift bringing out Travis Kelce
Favorite Tour Tradition
Benson Boone- Backflips
Chappell Roan – Teaching “HOT TO GO” dance
Charli xcx + Troye Sivan – “Apple” Girl (dance)
Morgan Wallen – Walk out song
Niall Horan – Heaven pose
Nicki Minaj – Fans sing
Olivia Rodrigo- Encore tank
Sabrina Carpenter- “Juno” position
Tate McRae – Soundcheck covers
Taylor Swift- “22” Hat
WINNER: Taylor Swift – Surprise songs
Usher – Feeding cherries
Best Lyrics
“Beautiful Things” – Benson Boone
“BIRDS OF A FEATHER” – Billie Eilish
“Espresso”- Sabrina Carpenter
“Exes” – Tate McRae
WINNER: “Fortnight” – Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone
“Good Luck, Babe!”- Chappell Roan
“I Had Some Help”- Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen
“I Love You, I’m Sorry” – Gracie Abrams
“Not Like Us” – Kendrick Lamar
“Saturn” – SZA
“we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” – Ariana Grande
“Who”- Jimin
Best Music Video
“APT.” – ROSÉ and Bruno Mars
“Beautiful Things” – Benson Boone
“Die With A Smile” – Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars
“Espresso”- Sabrina Carpenter
WINNER: “Fortnight”- Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone
“Houdini” – Dua Lipa
“Houdini” -Eminem
“I Had Some Help” – Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen
“LUNA” – ATL Jacob X FEID
“Not Like Us” – Kendrick Lamar
“Please Please Please” – Sabrina Carpenter
“Rockstar”- Lisa
Favorite Tour Style
Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft
Chappell Roan – The Midwest Princess
Charli xcx and Troye Sivan – Sweat
GloRilla and Megan Thee Stallion – Hot Girl Summer Tour
Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday 2 Tour
Olivia Rodrigo – GUTS
Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet
Tate McRae – Think Later
WINNER: Taylor Swift – The Eras Tour
Usher – Usher: Past Present Future
Favorite Tour Photographer
Adam Degross – Post Malone
WINNER: Alfredo Flores – Sabrina Carpenter
Baeth – Tate McRae
Christian Tierney – Niall Horan
David Bergman – Luke Combs
Henry Hwu – Billie Eilish
Lucienne Nghiem – Chappell Roan
Miles Leavitt – Olivia Rodrigo
Pooneh Ghana – Noah Kahan
RAYSCORRUPTEDMIND – Travis Scott
Sanjay Parikh – Shinedown
Yasi – Kacey Musgraves
Favorite On Screen
Are You Sure?! (Jimin and Jungkook)
Child Star (Demi Lovato)
Elton John: Never Too Late (Elton John)
Gaga Chromatica Ball (Lady Gaga)
I Am: Céline Dion (Céline Dion)
Lainey Wilson: Bell Bottom Country (Lainey Wilson)
Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words (Megan Thee Stallion)
Olivia Rodrigo: GUTS World Tour (Olivia Rodrigo)
Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE (KATSEYE)
Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (Bruce Springsteen)
WINNER: Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) (Taylor Swift)
Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story (Bon Jovi)
Album of the Year: Hit Me Hard and Soft, Billie Eilish
Pop Album of the Year: The Tortured Poets Department, Taylor Swift
Alternative Album of the Year: Clancy, twenty one pilots
Rock Album of the Year: From Zero, Linkin Park
Country Album of the Year: F-1 Trillion, Post Malone
Dance Album of the Year: brat, Charli xcx
K-Pop Album of the Year: Ate, Stray Kids
Hip-hop Album of the Year: We Don’t Trust You, Future & Metro Boomin
R&B Album of the Year: Coming Home, Usher
Latin Pop/Urban Album of the Year: Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, Shakira
Regional Mexican Album of the Year: Éxodo, Peso Pluma
Tour of the Century: Taylor Swift, The Eras Tour
Icon Award: Mariah Carey
Innovator Award: Lady Gaga
Label of the Year: Republic Records
Landmark Award: Nelly
Breakthrough Award: Gracie Abrams
