MTV has announced that Mariah Carey will be honored with the prestigious Video Vanguard Award at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards. The ceremony, airing live on September 7 from UBS Arena in New York, will feature Carey performing a career-spanning medley of hits, marking a long-awaited recognition for one of pop music’s most celebrated voices.

The accolade, often described as the VMAs’ lifetime achievement honor, comes more than three decades into Carey’s trailblazing career. Despite being a seven-time VMA nominee, the Video Vanguard will be the first Moonman the singer officially takes home.

Carey’s history with the VMAs stretches back to the 1990s, but victory has eluded her until now. This year, she is also nominated in the Best R&B Video category for “Type Dangerous”, an action film-inspired clip that has drawn attention for its cinematic flair. It is her first nomination as a lead artist since 2008, when “Touch My Body” was recognized in the Best Female Video category.

Across her career, signature songs like “We Belong Together” and “Shake It Off” earned nominations, but never wins. The Video Vanguard Award, then, serves as long-overdue validation of Carey’s impact on music video culture and pop performance.

The recognition comes at a pivotal moment for the five-time Grammy winner. Carey is preparing to release her sixteenth studio album, Here for It All, on September 26 - her first full-length since 2018’s Caution. While the album’s full tracklist has yet to be revealed, fans have already been treated to “Sugar Sweet”, a collaboration with Shenseea and Kehlani, signaling that Carey continues to evolve while staying true to her R&B and pop roots.

For the VMAs, speculation is already swirling around her performance. With a back catalog spanning multiple eras, Carey could easily fill the stage solo, but her history of collaborations offers room for surprises. Over the years, she has worked with the likes of Boyz II Men, Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg, Miguel, Jadakiss, Jermaine Dupri, and most recently, younger stars like Latto. Any of them could make a guest appearance in what is expected to be one of the night’s biggest showcases.

This isn’t the first major award Carey has received in 2025. Earlier this summer, she was honored with the BET Ultimate Icon Award, another first in her career. Accepting that prize, Carey reflected on her decades in the spotlight, saying, “My life and career have been quite the adventure. It took me a while, but I realized life is far too short to live for anyone else’s approval.”

Both honors arrive on the heels of her second shutout from induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a snub that sparked conversation among fans and critics about the institution’s track record with pop and R&B artists.

Carey joins an elite roster of Video Vanguard recipients who have defined MTV and music video history. Recent honorees include Katy Perry, Shakira, Nicki Minaj, Missy Elliott, Jennifer Lopez, P!nk, and Rihanna. Like those artists, Carey’s influence extends beyond her songs into the visual presentation of her music, from her early glamorous ballad videos to the glossy, narrative-driven productions of the 2000s. The Video Vanguard Award not only honors Carey’s past achievements but also underscores her enduring presence in pop culture.