Why Lady Gaga Prerecorded Her 2025 MTV VMAs Performance

Lady Gaga prerecorded her 2025 MTV VMAs performance for a pretty good reason.

The 14-time Grammy winner, who is up for 12 VMAs tonight, taped her songs for the star-studded awards show during her Saturday, Sept. 6, show at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Gaga, 39, pre-taped her theatrical production for the VMAs because she is performing at the Garden in Manhattan at the same time the awards show taking place at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.

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Gaga did make an appearance at the awards show, however, to accept the Moon Person for Artist of the Year at the top of the show before heading back to Madison Square Garden. She gave a passionate speech, describing her commitment to being an artist and dedicating her award to the audience.

“Being an artist is a discipline, a craft meant for reaching into someone’s heart, where it grows its roots, and reminding them to dream. Being an artist is a responsibility to make the audience smile, dance, cry, and release at any turn,” she said in part.

“It is a method of building understanding and celebrating community. I hope as you navigate through the mayhem of daily life, you are reminded of the importance of the art of your life, that you can count on yourself and your simple skills to keep you whole, your rehearsal, your discipline, your craft deserves to be rewarded for its passion. The way you move through your life is iconic and rare. It is entirely yours.”

Added Gaga: “I dedicate this award to the audience. You very much deserve a stage to shine one, and I give you all my applause. Thank you, little monsters, my fans, for always supporting me and always supporting the monster in me.”

“I wish I could stay and watch all these amazing performances, but I have to go back to Madison Square Garden.” Gaga concluded her speech.

She also mentioned on her Instagram Stories on Sunday night ahead of the awards show that she would be onstage around 9:30 p.m. at MSG.

The “How Bad Do U Want Me” singer is currently touring in support of her album Mayhem, which she released in March with stops in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago and several cities in Europe.

Mayhem is up for Best Album. Meanwhile, the “Abracadabra” music video is up for Best Direction, Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography.

She and collaborator Bruno Mars are nominated together for Best Pop, Best Collaboration, Song of the Year and Video of the Year thanks to their duet “Die with a Smile.”

Days before the VMAs, Gaga canceled her Miami show on Sept. 3 due to vocal strain. “During rehearsal last night and my vocal warmup tonight my voice was extremely strained and both my [doctor] and vocal coach have advised me not to go on because of the risk it poses,” she wrote.

“There is a significant risk based on all our combined experience with a show like ours and as you know I sing live every night — and even though this was a hard and agonizing decision I would be more afraid of the long term implications on my voice,” Gaga continued.

“I hope you can forgive me and accept my sincerest apologies for any disappointment. Let down. Inconvenience.”

The Kaseya Center, where Gaga was meant to perform, also released a statement to fans with tickets to that evening’s show. “During her warmup tonight lady gaga experienced significant vocal strain and has been advised by her ent not to perform,” they explained on their Instagram page.

The venue also noted that “information on the rescheduled date and the process for refunds will be issued soon.”

The 2025 MTV VMAs air live from New York’s UBS Arena on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and MTV. The ceremony will also stream on Paramount+.