Mariah Carey delivered a theatrical performance after being honored with the Video Vanguard Award at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards. With set designs channeling movie theaters and masquerade balls, the mega-star worked through hits from each era of her career.
Carey opened the medley with “Sugar Sweet,” her collaboration with Shenseea and Kehlani, though she performed it solo. The celebration continued with “Fantasy” and “Heartbreaker,” during which Carey was joined by a crew of roller-skating dancers. When it was time to roll into “Obsessed,” she brought the drama by knocking out Bianca, the alter ego she created for “Heartbreaker” back in 1999. “Ew,” she said, “Why is she here?” Clips from Carey’s most iconic videos played on the wide screens behind her, looking back at an extensive musical legacy.
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“Music videos are my way of life, of bringing music to my own life,” Carey said. “Many movies, visualizing the sheer fantasy of it all. And let’s be honest, sometimes they’re just an excuse to bring the drama and do things I wouldn’t do in real life, like going in drag for ‘Obsessed,’ playing my alter ego, Bianca, in ‘Heartbreaker,’ escaping the mob in ‘Honey’ with a hot guy to a remote island — well, that one really wasn’t much of a stretch. But you know, it happened.”
“Honey” didn’t make it into the set, but “It’s Like That” did accompanied by Carey’s unmistakable might up Mimi sign. The grand finale arrived with “We Belong Together,” for which Carey was backed by an orchestra. “After all this time, I’ve learned that music evolves, videos evolve, but the fun — that is eternal,” she said in her speech. “Thank you, MTV, for playing my videos and to my fans, the Lambily, I love you so much.”
Ariana Grande — who referred to Carey as the “queen of my heart and lifelong inspiration” when they teamed up for the “Yes, And?” remix last year — presented Carey with the coveted award. “This year’s Video Vanguard Awards winner is the reason why so many of us here sing,” she said in her introduction. “She is the one and only, Mariah Carey. As a songwriter and producer, she has given us an anthem for every single occasion, providing us with a song to sing and a hand to hold during the best and worst of times. As a vocalist, there’s only one queen, and that’s Mariah.”
She added: “She knows no limits with her iconic five octave range and has left an irrevocable impact on music history with her tone, technique and sound. Her music videos have become the pop playbook, giving us everything from alter egos to drag to hundreds of iconic looks. Mariah Carey is a singular talent and artist. Tonight, we celebrate and thank her deeply and endlessly for her work and for providing us with the soundtrack of our lives.”
While the Vanguard Award marks Carey’s first career Moonman, she’s been nominated nine times at the VMAs for plenty of classic hits — including 1996’s “One Sweet Day” with Boyz II Men and 2005’s “We Belong Together” — but has always gone home empty-handed.
Carey took a moment during her speech to playfully call MTV out for the delay. “I just have one question,” she began, “What in the Sam Hill were you waiting for?” Still, she expressed gratitude for all the special VMAs moments she has been a part of.
“Being here brings back amazing memories, like when I presented LL Cool J his Vanguard Award, or when Whitney Houston and I opened the show with a faux standoff,” she said, referencing their 1998 appearance in matching Versace gowns. It was a moment so iconic that Megan Thee Stallion and Dua Lipa recreated it at the 2022 Grammy Awards.
Along with receiving the Video Vanguard Award, Carey is nominated for one competitive Moonman this year, Best R&B Video for “Type Dangerous.” The action flick-themed visual was directed by Joseph Kahn and featured cameos from Marlon Lundgren Garcia and MrBeast.
“Type Dangerous” is set to appear on Carey’s upcoming album, Here for It All, which is set to arrive on Sept. 26. The album marks Carey’s 16th studio effort and first in seven years following 2018’s Caution. A full track list revealed that the album will also feature appearances from Anderson .Paak and the storied gospel group, the Clark Sisters.
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