On the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards on Monday evening, the “Abracadabra” singer was given one of many evening’s particular awards — the iHeartRadio Innovator Award.

Per iHeart, the trophy is given to “an artist who has impacted each music and world tradition all through their profession,” with the corporate saying in an announcement that “few artists in fashionable historical past have taken inventive dangers with the extent of success” she’s had. Additionally they known as consideration to her advocacy and philanthropy for “psychological well being, LGBTQ+ rights, HIV/AIDS consciousness and physique picture points.”

Presenting the award was Doechii, who instructed the gang, “Rising up, I used to be nothing like most people I used to be round and the whole lot about me represented a group of other youngsters that had been under-represented in my surroundings. I used to be thought-about bizarre, however it’s okay as a result of issues labored out.”

“As a child that Recognized as an artist, as queer and as a little bit Monster, Girl Gaga wasn’t only a pop star, she was a lifeline,” added Doechii, as Gaga regarded emotional within the viewers. “Gaga taught us it was okay to be our actual selves … Gaga was and all the time is new, recent and completely different. Not solely is that okay, however it’s supreme.”

After a package deal highlighting her profession, Gaga then took the stage to gather her trophy.

“I do not know completely how to consider this as a result of successful an award honoring my complete profession at 38 years previous is a tough factor to get my head round,” she started. “One the one hand, I really feel like I have been doing this eternally and then again, I do know I am simply getting began.”

“So despite the fact that the world may take into account a lady in her late 30s previous for a pop star — which is insane — I promise that I am simply getting warmed up,” she vowed.

After citing a few of her personal modern moments — like displaying as much as the Grammys in an egg and “creating an anthem everybody instructed us was too controversial till be turned simple,” referring to “Born This Means” — she instructed followers that the “strongest innovation is your authenticity.”

She then thanked her grandmothers for instilling that sense of energy and dedication in her, calling them the “best innovators that I’ve ever identified.” Gaga then talked about her many inspirations, together with David Bowie, Grace Jones, Madonna, Stevie Surprise and the late nice Tony Bennett, earlier than turning her consideration to her followers, her Little Monsters.

“Thanks for all the time seeing me so clearly from The Fame to Mayhem. Since you noticed me, I realized to see myself,” she continued. “To the LGBTQ+ group, you taught me bravery earlier than the world was able to hear. You’ve got modified the world for the higher and your braveness fuels mine each single day.”

Gaga ended her speech by thanking her fiancé Michael Plansky, earlier than signing off with this: “Each artist whose ever been instructed they’re completely different, difficult or an excessive amount of, please, by no means change. Break the mould. The world would not want one other copy, it desperately wants one other authentic.”

The win comes shortly after the discharge of her most up-to-date album, Mayhem, streaming now.