Lady Gaga blasts ageism in music industry, says it’s insane to call women in their late 30s old
On Monday, March 17, during the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, American singer Lady Gaga expressed her strong views on ageism in the music industry.
The 38-year-old artist, who was honored with the prestigious Innovator Award, took the opportunity to speak out about the unrealistic expectations placed on women in pop music. “I don’t know totally how to think about this because winning an award honouring my entire career at 38 years old is a hard thing to get my head around,” Gaga remarked.
She went on to challenge the industry’s narrow standards: “The world might consider a woman in her late 30’s old for a pop star, which is insane, but I promise you I’m just getting warmed up.”
While Gaga celebrated her personal achievements, the night also saw Nigerian singers Burna Boy and Tems lose the inaugural World Artist of the Year award to South Africa’s Tyla.
