Mariah Carey is set to make a historic comeback at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards. The 56-year-old global superstar will be honored with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award on September 7th, marking her first appearance at the ceremony in 20 years.
In addition to accepting the prestigious accolade, Carey will light up the stage with a special medley of her greatest hits at the 2025 MTV VMAs. The show, hosted by LL COOL J, will air live from New York’s UBS Arena on Sunday, September 7, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS and MTV, with streaming available on Paramount+ in the U.S.
© Credit: Ethan James Green (Courtesy: VMAs)A full circle VMAs moment
Carey’s recognition carries extra meaning, she first presented the same award to LL COOL J back in 1997. Her last medley performance at the VMAs came in 2005, when she delivered a soaring rendition of We Belong Together from her multi-platinum album
© Kevin.MazurMariah Carey and LL Cool J at the 1997 VMAs Awards
The Emancipation of Mimi, which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary.The singer’s history with the VMAs stretches back to her 1991 debut, where she stunned audiences with a powerhouse five-octave performance of Emotions.
In 1998, she shared the stage with Whitney Houston in an unforgettable pop culture moment when both stars “accidentally” wore the same dress to open the show.
© KMazurMariah Carey and Whitney Houston
Mariah Carey’s legacy
Known for her iconic visuals, Carey has delivered era-defining music videos for hits like Honey, Heartbreaker, Obsessed, Touch My Body, Breakdown, and #Beautiful. With more than 220 million albums sold worldwide, the five-time GRAMMY winner holds 19 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles, 18 of which she co-wrote, giving her more chart-toppers than any solo artist in history.
This year, she is also gearing up for the release of her milestone 16th studio album, Here For It All, arriving September 26. The record includes her new single Type Dangerous, which is nominated for Best R&B at this year’s VMAs.
A Career-Defining Honor
The Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award recognizes artists whose visual storytelling has profoundly shaped pop culture. First renamed after Jackson received it in 1991. The award’s history dates back to the very first VMAs in 1984, when David Bowie, The Beatles, and director Richard Lester shared the honor.Carey now joins that iconic list, with her trophy set apart as the gold-plated version of the famous VMA “moonman.”
Mariah now joins an elite group of past recipients that includes Katy Perry, Shakira, Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, Missy Elliott, and LL COOL J.
The 2025 MTV VMA Nominations
Lady Gaga leads this year’s nominations with 12, becoming the only artist in VMAs history to top the list three times.
Bruno Mars follows with 11, while Kendrick Lamar scored 10. Rising stars Rose and Sabrina Carpenter each earned eight nominations, with nods in major categories like Best Pop and Artist of the Year. And two new categories debut this year, Best Country and Best Pop Artist.
© KMazurMariah Carey last performed at the awards during its 2005 editon at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida
Mariah Carey’s Record-Breaking Streaming Success
Earlier this summer, Carey reached a new milestone when her 1995 hit Fantasy surpassed 500 million streams on Spotify. The track, which was her ninth Billboard Hot 100 No. 1, made history as the first single by a female artist to debut at the top of the chart.
Reflecting on its enduring impact, Carey told 98.5 KRZ in June, “A lot of people didn’t think I should do that song. And why would I work with O.D.B.? Because they didn’t understand that it was my choice. And, anyway, it ended up being one of my favourite, one of my biggest songs ever.”
© WireImage for ABAMariah Carey who performed at Pride 2025, will be making a comeback to the MTV VMAs after 20 years
Alongside Fantasy, Carey has three other songs that have crossed major streaming milestones: her holiday anthem All I Want for Christmas Is You (over two billion streams), We Belong Together (777 million streams), and Obsessed (nearly 600 million streams).
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