Mariah Carey has been named the 2025 recipient of the Video Vanguard Award at the MTV Video Music Awards. The singer will also perform during the telecast on September 7, which will air on CBS for the first time.
Producers have promised a "show-stopping, career-spanning medley of her biggest hits" as part of the three-hour show. This will mark Carey's first performance on the VMAs stage in 20 years, since she performed a medley to promote her album 'The Emancipation of Mimi' in 2005.
Carey joins a list of recent female recipients of the award, including Katy Perry (2024), Shakira, Nicki Minaj, Missy Elliott, Jennifer Lopez, Pink and Rihanna. The last male recipient was Kanye West in 2015. Carey previously presented the same award to LL Cool J in 1997; LL Cool J will host this year's show, creating a reunion of sorts.
Carey has a new album, 'Here for It All', due for release on September 26 via the Gamma label. The first single, 'Type Dangerous', was released in June and is nominated for Best R&B at this year's VMAs.
Other announced performers include Sabrina Carpenter, Ricky Martin (who will receive the first-ever Latin Icon Award), Busta Rhymes, J Balvin, Alex Warren and Sombr. The VMAs will air live on CBS, MTV and stream on Paramount+ at 8pm ET/5pm PT on September 7 from New York's UBS Arena.
