In her remarkable career, Mariah Carey has been awarded numerous accolades. But on Sunday (September 7), she earned her first MTV Video Music Award.
At the ceremony, the legendary singer received the Video Vanguard Award, presented to her by Ariana Grande, after she won her first Moon Person for her song “Type Dangerous” in the Best R&B music video category.
“Thank you so much for MTV for giving me the Vanguard Award. I can’t believe I’m getting my first VMA tonight,” Carey said. “I just have one question: What in the Sam Hill were you waiting for? I’m kidding. I love you.”
She also reflected on being on stage to present LL COOL J with his Vanguard Award and her iconic moment on stage with the late Whitney Houston.
“Being here brings back amazing memories, like when I presented LL COOL J for his Vanguard Award. Or, when Whitney Houston and I opened the show with a faux standoff where we both had our dresses, and we were like, ‘Try it on me.’ It was a moment.”
Music videos are my way of life, of bringing music to my own life,” she continued.”Many movies visualizing the sheer fantasy of it all. And let’s be honest, sometimes there’s just an excuse to bring the drama and do things I wouldn’t do in real life.”
Carey went on to share memories from her iconic videos, such as “Obsessed,” her “alter-ego” Bianca that she played in “Heartbreaker,” and being on the run from the mob in “Honey.”
“After all this time, I’ve learned that music evolves, videos evolve, but the fun, that is eternal. Thank you, MTV for playing my videos, and to my fans, the Lambily, I love you so much,” she said.