Global music legend Mariah Carey will be honored with the prestigious Video Vanguard Award at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), returning to the stage with a show-stopping medley of her greatest hits.
The ceremony, hosted by LL COOL J, will broadcast live from New York’s UBS Arena on Sunday, September 7 at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT on CBS, simulcast on MTV, and streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S.
The best-selling female artist of all time, Mariah Carey’s return marks her first “VMAs” performance in 20 years.
In a full-circle moment, she will accept the very award she presented to LL COOL J back in 1997.
Her last medley at the show in 2005 featured the chart-topping anthem “We Belong Together” from her landmark album ‘The Emancipation of Mimi’, which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary.
Mariah Carey made her “VMAs” debut in 1991 with a powerful rendition of “Emotions,” instantly cementing her status as a vocal powerhouse.
She later delivered one of the most iconic pop culture moments of the 1998 VMAs when she and Whitney Houston playfully appeared in matching gowns to open the show.
With a catalog of legendary music videos, including “Honey,” “Heartbreaker,” “Obsessed,” “Touch My Body,” “Breakdown,” and “#Beautiful,” Carey continues to shape music and visual artistry.
The five-time GRAMMY® winner has sold over 220 million albums worldwide and boasts 19 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles—18 of which she co-wrote—making her the most successful solo artist in chart history.
This milestone comes as Mariah Carey readies her 16th studio album, ‘Here For It All’, dropping September 26. Its lead single, “Type Dangerous,” is already nominated for Best R&B at this year’s awards.
Mariah Carey now joins an elite roster of past Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award recipients, including Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Shakira, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, and Missy Elliott.
The honor dates back to the inaugural VMAs in 1984, when it was first awarded to David Bowie, The Beatles, and director Richard Lester.
The 2025 VMAs are produced by Gunpowder & Sky, with Bruce Gillmer, Jesse Ignjatovic, and Barb Bialkowski serving as executive producers.
Official sponsors include BACARDÍ® Rum, Burger King®, DORITOS®, Dunkin’®, PANTENE, Under Armour, and more. Additional performers, presenters, and star appearances will be announced in the weeks leading up to the show.
Mariah Carey Sets New Billboard Record
Mariah Carey continues her reign on Billboard charts, securing another No. 1 with her single “Type Dangerous” on the Adult R&B Airplay chart.
The track, the lead single from her upcoming album “Here for It All,” climbed from No. 2 to the top spot after nine weeks, cementing Carey’s legacy as a chart powerhouse.
This achievement marks a historic milestone. “It has been just under 19 years since Carey last controlled the Adult R&B Airplay chart,” Billboard notes, highlighting the longest gap between No. 1s for a female artist on this chart.
Carey surpassed Janet Jackson, who previously held the record with a 17-year gap between her hits “I Get Lonely” (1998) and “No Sleeep” (2015).
Carey’s history on the Adult R&B Airplay chart includes three chart-toppers. Her first, “We Belong Together,” dominated for eight weeks in 2005, staying on the chart for 38 weeks. The following year, “Fly Like a Bird” claimed the top spot for six weeks.
While “Type Dangerous” ascends on the Adult R&B Airplay and Hot R&B Songs charts, its performance on pop radio and Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay rankings is slipping.
Still, Carey’s older R&B audience remains loyal, propelling the track’s success.
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