Lady Gaga Slams Ageism in Pop Industry at iHeartRadio Awards

American pop icon Lady Gaga has criticized ageism in the music industry, calling it “insane” to consider women in their late 30s as “old” for pop stardom.

While receiving the Innovator Award at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards on March 17 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, the 38-year-old singer reflected on her career and the industry’s perception of age.

“Winning an award honoring my entire career at 38 years old is a hard thing to get my head around. The world might consider a woman in her late 30s old for a pop star, which is insane, but I promise you, I’m just getting warmed up.”

Her statement has sparked conversations about the double standards female artists face compared to their male counterparts, who often sustain long careers without facing similar scrutiny.