Mariah Carey Honored with Video Vanguard Award at MTV VMAs 2025 and Previews New Album Here For It All
Mariah Carey received the prestigious Video Vanguard Award at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, presented by Ariana Grande. The honor was followed by a performance that revisited several of her most iconic songs and music video moments.
Mariah Carey wins the Video Vanguard Award at the 2025 MTV VMAs, delivers career-spanning performance, and previews her new album Here For It All.
Getty Images for MTV
Grande introduced Carey with high praise, calling her “a singular talent and artist” whose five-octave range and music videos have shaped pop culture. She highlighted Carey’s lasting impact on music history and her influence across generations.
Carey opened her performance with her latest single, Sugar Sweet, wearing pajamas in a bedroom-themed set before transitioning into a medley of classics. She delivered the Fantasy remix, Honey, Heartbreaker with her alter ego Bianca, and Obsessed, before closing with It’s Like That and the ballad We Belong Together. Each segment reflected the visual style and creativity of her original music videos.
After receiving the award, Carey expressed her gratitude in a lighthearted speech, joking about the timing of her first VMA win. She reflected on how music videos have been central to her artistry, describing them as both fantasy and storytelling while noting the freedom they gave her to explore alter egos and cinematic narratives.
Earlier in the evening, Carey also won Best R&B Video for Type Dangerous. Both that single and Sugar Sweet are featured on her upcoming album Here For It All, which will be released on September 26. The project includes collaborations with Kehlani, Shenseea, Anderson .Paak, and the Clark Sisters. The tracklist features titles such as Confetti Champagne, In Your Feelings, and Mi.
Type Dangerous, co-written and co-produced by Anderson .Paak, was released in June and marked Carey’s first new material since 2018’s Caution. Reports suggest .Paak may serve as executive producer of the new album.
Carey is now signed to Gamma, the independent label founded in 2023 by Larry Jackson. The album will also be executive produced by L.A. Reid under his company Mega. Reid described the move as a significant shift in the industry, calling Carey’s decision to partner with an independent company “a game changer.”
The 2025 MTV VMAs performance and award celebration set the stage for Carey’s next era as she prepares to release Here For It All later this month.