Mariah Carey Receives the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2025 MTV VMAs

Mariah Carey has been honored with the prestigious Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, becoming the eighth female artist to win this accolade since Rihanna in 2016. Presented annually by MTV, the award recognizes outstanding contributions to music videos and cultural impact. Carey is only the 37th artist to receive this honor since its founding in 1984.

Her performance at the ceremony was a culmination of her career hits. Wearing a shimmering gold dress, she opened with “Sugar Sweet,” followed by energetic renditions of “Fantasy” featuring Ol’ Dirty Bastard and “Heartbreaker,” where she showcased a dazzling gold bodysuit. Her set continued with “Obsessed,” “It’s Like That” featuring Jermaine Dupri & Fatman, and “We Belong Together.”

Carey received a standing ovation from her fans as Ariana Grande introduced her for this momentous performance. Afterward, Grande presented Carey with the Vanguard Award, which she accepted with humor and heartfelt gratitude. “This Moonman is heavy,” she joked, before expressing her appreciation: “Thank you MTV for the Vanguard Award. I can’t believe I’m getting my first VMA tonight. I love you all so much.” Carey’s speech reflected on her journey, emphasizing how music videos are central to her artistry, and she celebrated the fun and drama intertwined with her career.

Throughout her speech, Carey announced the upcoming release of her new album, “Here for It All,” set for September 26. She also reflected on her history with the VMAs, noting that her last performance was in 2005. Despite multiple nominations since 1996, she had not won a Moonman until this night.

Besides the Vanguard Award, Carey was awarded Best R&B for her single “Type Dangerous,” released ahead of her album. She prerecorded her acceptance speech for this category. In her remarks, she expressed gratitude to her collaborators, fans, and supporters, emphasizing her dedication to her craft and her fans’ loyalty.

Reflecting on her career, Carey highlighted her studio resilience, recalling how she famously completed “We Belong Together” in just six hours with Jermaine Dupri. The event also marked her reunion with LL Cool J, who had previously honored her with the Vanguard Award in 1997.

Carey’s age made her the oldest recipient of the Vanguard Award to date, surpassing Richard Lester, who was 52 when he received it in 1984. She ended her speech by acknowledging her fans, her team, and the power of music and videos in her life.