Mariah Carey to Receive Video Vanguard Award and Perform at 2025 MTV VMAs

Global entertainment icon Mariah Carey will receive the coveted Video Vanguard Award and deliver a career-spanning medley of her greatest hits at the 2025 MTV VMAs. The show, hosted by LL COOL J, airs live coast-to-coast from UBS Arena in New York on Sunday, September 7, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT on CBS, simulcast on MTV and streaming on Paramount+.

This marks Carey’s first return to the VMAs stage in 20 years. In a full circle moment, she will accept the same award she presented to LL COOL J in 1997. Her last medley performance in 2005 featured the chart-topping “We Belong Together,” from her multi-platinum album The Emancipation of Mimi, which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary.

Carey made her VMAs debut in 1991 with “Emotions,” and created a pop culture milestone in 1998 when she and Whitney Houston opened the show in matching gowns.

Known for iconic videos like “Honey,” “Heartbreaker,” “Obsessed,” and “Touch My Body,” Carey has sold more than 220 million albums worldwide and earned 19 Billboard Hot 100 number one singles. She will release her 16th studio album Here For It All on September 26, featuring the new single “Type Dangerous,” nominated for Best R&B.

Mariah Carey is also back with a new single, “Sugar Sweet,” featuring Shenseea and Kehlani. Released today via gamma, the track blends Mariah’s timeless songwriting with Shenseea’s Caribbean flair and Kehlani’s smooth R&B style.

Produced by Mariah and HARV, “Sugar Sweet” marks the second single from Here For It All, Carey’s first studio album in seven years, due out September 26. The track’s summery vibe and seductive melody offer a playful soundtrack for warm nights and late drives, adding to the growing anticipation for the full album.

“Sugar Sweet” follows a wave of buzz sparked earlier this week when Carey officially announced Here For It All. The excitement quickly spilled across social media, with fans worldwide celebrating the long-awaited return. Physical presales for the album quickly climbed Amazon’s bestseller charts, with four out of the top five spots claimed by different editions of the album.

With over 200 million records sold, Mariah remains the best-selling female artist of all time. Her return with “Sugar Sweet” confirms she still knows how to create a hit while bringing together fresh talent to elevate her sound.

As fans count down the final stretch before the album’s release, “Sugar Sweet” sets the tone for what promises to be one of the year’s most talked-about projects.

Here For It All drops September 26 on all major platforms.