Lady Gaga approved of Selena Gomez's speech at last Sunday's American Music Awards, speaking highly of her fellow pop artist.

Gomez opened up like never before when accepting the award for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist. She had spent the past few months out of the spotlight, battling with anxiety, depression and the complications involved with lupus, and chose to fully speak from the heart in her speech.

"In 2014, this stage was actually the first time that I was authentically, one hundred percent honest with all of you," she admitted, of her "The Heart Wants What It Wants" performance. "I think it's safe to say that most of you know a lot of my life, whether I like it or not, and I had to stop, 'cause I had everything and I was absolutely broken inside. And I kept it all together enough to where I would never let you down, but I kept it too much together to where I let myself down."

The audience was visibly moved by Gomez's speech, but especially Gaga, who was seen celebrating the young artist's honesty and maturity.

Now, Gaga has spoken out about Gomez's words, telling Australia's Kyle and Jackie O of KIIS FM this week that the speech was "kind of like watching someone rip the shackles off their arms and unchain themselves." She added: "I found it very brave of her to stand up and speak about [depression]."

Gaga said that she knows Gomez personally, "and I had a kindred excitement for her at that moment."

Gaga has been in show business for several years now, but only recently started discussing the dangers of fame and her own struggles with depression. The 30-year-old gave advice to others in the business who might be grappling with the more negative aspects of celebrity: "You don't always have to keep up a good face and a good front in order to succeed. What's most important is that on the inside you're OK because it's your heart that matters."

Tags: Lady Gaga Selena Gomez amas