Mariah Carey is the recipient of the 2025 MTV VMA Video Vanguard Award
Shakira, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, and Missy Elliot are among the previous honorees.
At the 2025 MTV VMA Awards, Mariah Carey will receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award.
With legendary music videos supporting her outstanding writing, the singer is acknowledged as one of the best-selling female singers of all time. For the first time in two decades, she will also perform at the event. It’s a full circle moment for Carey, who in 1997 gave the Vanguard award to this year’s host, LL COOL J.
Katy Perry is the most recent recipient of the Michael Jackson Vanguard Award; other past winners include Shakira, Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Rihanna, Missy Elliott, and others. Before the award was named in Jackson’s honor in 1991, David Bowie, The Beatles, and director Richard Lester shared the prize at the inaugural VMAs in 1984.
With her latest hit, “Type Dangerous,” the R&B singer is also nominated for Best R&B this year. With twelve nominations this year, Lady Gaga has received the most. Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar, ROSÉ, and Sabrina Carpenter are among the other prominent nominees. The first-ever Rock The Bells Visionary Award will go to rapper Busta Rhymes, while the Latin Icon Award will go to Ricky Martin.
Brent Faiyaz, Lay Bankz, Freddie Gibbs, and Leon Thomas are all nominated for the first time. Among the performers mentioned are J Balvin ft. Alex Warren. Sabrina Carpenter, Ricky Martin, DJ Snake, and Sombr.
In the United States, the 2025 MTV VMAs will be streamed on Paramount+, simulcast on MTV, and broadcast live from UBS Arena on Sunday, September 7 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS. With the exception of Best New Artist, who is still up for vote until the awards event, fans can cast their ballots for their favorite musicians at the official website, vote.mtv.com, until September 5.
