After 35 years of record-breaking hits and iconic music videos, Mariah Carey has finally nabbed her first MTV Video Music Award. On September 7, Ariana Grande presented her with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, honoring a career that has shaped pop music for decades.
Carey accepted with a bow and a playful jab: “Thank you, MTV, for giving me the Vanguard Award. I can’t believe I’m getting my first VMA tonight. I just have one question. What in the Sam Hill were you waiting for?” she quipped.
Her career hardly needed validation. Since her 1990 debut single 'Vision of Love,' Carey has scored 19 Billboard Hot 100 number ones—more than any other solo artist in history—and crafted some of the most memorable VMA moments, including her faux standoff with Whitney Houston in 1998.
For these reasons, divas like Carey don’t fade into the background. With a vocal range that spans seven octaves and a legacy of dazzling hits, her influence remains unmatched. Click through to relive Mariah’s most iconic moments on and off the stage.