This achievement marks the singer's first time taking home a Moon Person. Mariah Carey receives Video Vanguard Award at 2025 MTV VMAs

This achievement marks the singer's first time taking home a Moon Person.

Mariah Carey receives Video Vanguard Award at 2025 MTV VMAs

This achievement marks the singer's first time taking home a Moon Person.

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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September 7, 2025 9:43 p.m. ET

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Mariah Carey is celebrating her very first Moon Person!

On Sunday, the singer behind such iconic music videos as "Honey," "Heartbreaker," "Obsessed," and "Touch My Body" was awarded the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2025 MTV VMAs. One of her biggest, most vocal fans, Ariana Grande, presented the pop legend with the honor.

"Music evolves, videos evolve, but the fun? That is eternal," Carey said when she took the stage to accept the award.

Mariah Carey accepts the Video Vanguard Award from Ariana Grande at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards.

ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty

The sweet, full-circle moment harkens back to Carey's last appearance on the VMAs stage in 1997, when she presented the very same award to LL Cool J — the host of this year's ceremony. It also marks the first time that nine-time VMA nominee Carey has ever won a Moon Person (formerly called a Moonman) statuette.

The Video Vanguard Award celebrates artists for their outstanding contributions and profound impact on music videos and pop culture. Past recipients have included Katy Perry, Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Kanye West, David Bowie, Madonna, Nicki Minaj, Shakira, and Rihanna. The Beatles and *A Hard Day's Night* director Richard Lester were the first to win the honor at the inaugural VMAs in 1984.

2025 VMAs winners: See the full list

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Before her win, Carey graced New York's UBS Arena with a career-spanning medley that included hits like "Fantasy," "Honey," "Obsessed," "It's Like That," and "We Belong Together." She also performed a new track, "Sugar Sweet," from *Here for It All,* her 16th studio album, out Sept. 26. She recently released a music video for her first single off the record, "Type Dangerous," adding to her robust catalog.

Mariah Carey accepts the Video Vanguard Award at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards.

ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty

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Along with Carey's big number, the 2025 VMAs welcomed Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter, Busta Rhymes, J Balvin, Alex Warren, Ricky Martin, Sombr, and more for their own performances.

Lady Gaga, who came in with 12 nominations, was the night's biggest winner, earning four Moon Person trophies total. Meanwhile, Grande won Video of the Year for "Brighter Days Ahead," as well as two other awards, and Sabrina Carpenter scooped up three trophies. See the full list of winners here.

The VMAs aired live Sunday night on CBS, MTV, and Paramount+ from the UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y.

- MTV Video Music Awards

Original Article on Source

Source: "AOL MTV"

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Source: VOGUE MAG

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