Mariah Carey Wears Rhinestone Romper for 2025 MTV VMAs Vanguard Performance

Mariah Carey brought the glamour to the 2025 MTV VMAs!

Before she accepted the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award on Sunday, Sept. 7, the legendary performer, 56, hit the stage for a medley of her biggest hits and wore a stage ensemble fit for the occasion.

The singer wore a champagne colored silk robe with feathers as she opened up her performance with her 2025 track, “Sugar Sweet.”

By the time she began performing “Dreamlover” during her medley of hits — which included “Heartbreaker,” “Obsessed,” “Like That” and “We Belong Together” — she’d removed the robe to reveal a gold long-sleeve romper completely covered with glittering rhinestones.

The star completed the look with several dazzling pieces of diamond jewelry and added a pair of knee-high boots to match the romper, which also sparkled with rhinestones.

This marks Carey’s first return to the VMAs in 20 years, at which she performed a medley of songs from her album The Emancipation of Mimi. Carey made her MTV VMAs debut in 1991, performing “Emotions.”

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In 1998, Carey and longtime friend Whitney Houston surprised fans with a “diva-off” of sorts. The two singers opened the show wearing the same “custom” Vera Wang dress and tried to one up each other.

Tonight’s recognition comes just three months after accepting the Ultimate Icon Award at the 2025 BET Awards. With 19 self-written Billboard Hot 100 number one hits and five Grammys to her name, it’s easy to see why Carey is one of the most talented musicians of our generation.

MTV’s lifetime achievement award honors outstanding contributions and influence on music video and popular culture. Previous honorees include Katy Perry, Shakira, Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Madonna, Janet Jackson, LL Cool J, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake and Missy Elliott. 

Carey is also nominated for Best R&B for her song “Type Dangerous” from her upcoming album Here For It All, out Sept. 26.

While speaking with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden in an interview on June 30, the singer revealed that the new project will give an intimate look at her life like never before.

“Definitely when the album is released, there’s a lot of who I am today, and the last 10 years, the last 14 years [in it]. It’s an interesting situation when you have kids [4-year-old twins Monroe and Moroccan], and it’s a whole ‘nother paint job. It’s a whole different thing,” she said.

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Carey offered a preview of the album when she unveiled the tracklist late August, featuring 11 songs.

The 2025 MTV VMAs air live from New York’s UBS Arena on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and MTV. The ceremony will also stream on Paramount+.