Lady Gaga rocked two different stylish looks on Monday night at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards.

When receiving the Innovator Award, the musical artist Mayhem, who is currently engaged to Michael Polansky, chose to don a red dress while addressing the issue of ageism in the pop music industry.

During her acceptance speech, she expressed her mixed feelings about being honored for her entire career at the age of 38, stating, “I don’t know totally how to think about this because winning an award honoring my entire career at 38-years-old is a hard thing to get my head around.”

She further emphasized her conflicting emotions by acknowledging her extensive experience in the field while also recognizing that she is just beginning. Refusing to conform to societal norms regarding age and a pop star’s relevance, she confidently asserted, “So even though the world might consider a woman in her late thirties old for a pop star, which is insane, I promise that I’m just getting warmed up.”

The New York-bred musician also made sure to thank fellow hitmaker Doechii, who presented the honor, calling her ‘an innovator already.’

Lady Gaga rocked two different stylish looks on Monday night at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards, where she was the recipient of the Innovator Award

She showed off her trim frame in a ruched, black, mini dress with shoulder pads

Her thoughtful monologue continued, ‘Innovation isn’t about breaking rules; it’s about writing your own and convincing the world they were theirs all along. 

‘Like showing up to the Grammys in an egg or creating an anthem that everyone told us was too controversial until it became undeniable. If I have learned anything in three decades I’ve been at this, it’s that the most powerful innovation is your authenticity.’

She honored her ancestors as she went on to say, ‘Tonight I think of my grandmothers, fiercely brilliant Italian-American women who reinvented their destinies with nothing but strength, dreams and determination.

‘They didn’t invent technology or art; they invented possibility, shaping the future with nothing more than their minds. And those women, my ancestors, are the greatest women that I’ve ever known.’

Gaga acknowledged her musical inspirations, listing Madonna, Grace Jones, Carole King, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Elton John, Lady Starlight, Duke Ellington, and Cher.

The performer, born Stefani Germanotta, also named the later singer and collaborator Tony Bennett, sharing that he ‘taught me to embrace the classics but never be bound by them.’

Ahead of the show, she showed off her trim frame in a ruched, black, mini dress with shoulder pads. 

‘I’m on my way to the iHeartRadio Awards. I’m so excited,’ she said before blowing fans a kiss in a snippet shared via Instagram Stories.

While accepting the trophy, the Mayhem music artist wore a red dress as she aired out her gripe about ageism in pop music

‘I don’t know totally how to think about this because winning an award honoring my entire career at 38-years-old is a hard thing to get my head around,’ she said during her speech

‘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’

‘See you there,’ the singer-songwriter added before blowing the camera a kiss.

Gaga’s initial look featured delicate lace details at the bodice and along the skirt.

She added sheer black pantyhose before punctuating the look with a pair of pointy-toed black heels.

And the fashionista wore a chic, beret-inspired black hat, wearing it over her wispy, heather black bob haircut.

Germanotta expressed her gratitude for her fanbase, dubbed ‘little monsters,’ and also highlighted the LGBTQ+ community for supporting her throughout her career.

‘To the LGBTQ+ community, you taught me bravery before the world was ready to listen. You have changed the world for the better, and your courage fuels mine every day,’ she gushed.

Finally, she shared, ‘To every artist who has ever been told they’re ‘different,’ ‘complicated’ or ‘too much,’ please, never change. Break the mold. The world doesn’t need another copy, it desperately needs your original.’

The boundary-pushing fashion icon modeled a long-sleeved, bright red frock with a tiered, ruffled collar and bell sleeves

Gaga posed with music artist Benson Boone

She was also seen smiling for a snap with Kelsea Ballerini

Lady Gaga, Donnie Wahlberg and Jenny McCarthy were all smiles for the camera

In February Gaga sat down for an interview and chicken on an episode of Hot Wings.

As she chatted with host Sean Evans, the 14-time Grammy-winning musician opened up about why she nearly abandoned her dream of becoming a world-famous artist.

The Joker: Folie à Deux star shared: ‘There were definitely times where I felt like maybe I should walk away, but I know for sure that I never would.’

She went on to state that while she was ‘definitely’ tested, she is proud to never have given up.

‘And I’m still doing it, so it must mean I want to do it,’ she pointed out, weeks ahead of the release of her long-awaited seventh album, called Mayhem, which came out on March 7.