Mariah Carey recently lit up the MTV Video Music Awards, not just with her legendary performance, but also with a classic Mariah moment. The music icon, at 56 years young, finally snagged the prestigious Video Vanguard Award at the 2025 ceremony. It all went down on Sunday, September 7th, at the UBS Arena in New York. And let me tell you, she accepted it with her signature blend of grace and sass.
After pop superstar Ariana Grande handed her the coveted Moonman trophy, Carey took the stage. "Thank you so much, MTV, for giving me the Vanguard award," she began, basking in the applause. "I can’t believe I’m getting my first VMA tonight." Then came the line that had everyone buzzing. "I just have one question," she paused, a playful glint in her eye, "What the hell were you waiting for?" The crowd erupted in laughter and cheers. She quickly added, "Just kidding. I love your MTV. I love you all very much." It was a perfect, self-aware jab at her long-overdue recognition.
Before accepting the award, Mariah treated fans to a medley of her greatest hits. She belted out crowd favorites like "Fantasy," "Heartbreaker," "Obsessed," and "It’s Like That." This performance marked her big return to the VMA stage, her first time back since her unforgettable 2005 showing. That year, she showcased tracks from her acclaimed tenth album, The Emancipation of Mimi.
During her acceptance speech, Carey shared some wisdom about her journey in music. "I’ve learned that music evolves, videos evolve, but fun? That’s eternal," she declared. "Thank you, MTV, for airing my videos, and to my fans, I love you very much." Always the savvy businesswoman, she then dropped a little news. "And by the way, my new album Here for It All comes out in two weeks."
Believe it or not, despite her massive career, Carey had only been nominated for nine VMAs before this night. The Video Vanguard Award officially became her second Moonman. She also took home the award for Best R&B earlier that Sunday during the pre-show, thanks to her hit single “Type Dangerous.”
Producer Jermaine Dupri, speaking to Us Weekly on the red carpet, shed some light on the real Mariah. "People think she’s a diva," he explained, "but she takes what she does very seriously." He added that she is "very focused and understands where she needs to be." Dupri feels that sometimes her "diva facade" makes people think she’s not paying attention. "But she’s very aware of what’s going on," he assured. "She actually acts like a rapper, if you ask me, but she’s not going to show them that side."
Beyond the VMAs spotlight, Carey is gearing up for a big musical moment. She’s releasing Here for It All, her first album in seven years, on September 26th. The album’s lead single, “Type Dangerous,” first hit the airwaves back in June.
An insider from the music world shared with Us Weekly that same month, "Mariah is very pleased with the great reception of her new song, ‘Type Dangerous’." The source added, "She has high hopes for her upcoming album, as does her team."
While her festive tunes like "All I Want for Christmas Is You" have been super popular lately, Carey is ready to shine outside of the holiday season. The insider explained, "Of course, she is amazed by the renewed success of ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ every year." But the source noted, "she wants to remind the world that she is more than just the Queen of Christmas." It’s been a while since Mariah has had a huge new hit. However, "everyone around her is confident that this will be her most fruitful and successful era in more than a decade."
Working on and releasing this fresh music has truly "ignited a spark" in Carey, according to the source. Her loyal fanbase, known as the "Lambily," can expect many surprises.
Mariah herself explained the long wait for her sixteenth album back in July. She chatted about it on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. "I was just getting organized," she confessed at the time. "I would write about four songs and then I’d think, ‘We can start making an album now,’ but then I never did." She continued, "Then I got to about ten songs, and basically, the album was ready."
Mariah Carey and Ariana Grande Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for MTV