Mariah Carey will take center stage at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards as the recipient of the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.
Per Vibe, the honor recognizes her decades of influence as one of the most successful female artists in history, with a catalog of classic videos to match her chart-topping hits.
The moment is set to be especially significant, marking Carey’s first VMA performance in 20 years. It also brings her career full circle—back in 1997, she presented the same award to this year’s host, LL COOL J.
The Vanguard Award has a history of spotlighting boundary-breaking performers. Past recipients include Nicki Minaj, Shakira, Missy Elliott, Rihanna, Janet Jackson, Beyoncé, Madonna, and Katy Perry, who most recently accepted the award.
The honor dates back to the first VMAs in 1984, when David Bowie, The Beatles, and director Richard Lester shared it before it was renamed for Jackson in 1991.
Alongside the tribute to Carey, the 2025 ceremony will feature additional milestone recognitions. Busta Rhymes will be given the first-ever Rock The Bells Visionary Award, while Ricky Martin will receive the Latin Icon Award.
Carey also enters the night as a nominee. Her latest single, “Type Dangerous,” is up for Best R&B, adding another layer of anticipation to her appearance. Leading the nominations this year is Lady Gaga with 12 nods, while Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar, ROSÉ, and Sabrina Carpenter also rank among the top contenders.
First-time nominees include Leon Thomas, Freddie Gibbs, Lay Bankz, and Brent Faiyaz.
Fans can expect performances from a wide slate of artists, including Alex Warren, J Balvin with DJ Snake, Ricky Martin, Sabrina Carpenter, and Sombr.
The 2025 MTV VMAs will broadcast live from UBS Arena in New York on Sunday, Sept. 7, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The show will air on CBS, simulcast on MTV, and stream on Paramount+ for U.S. audiences.