Ricky Martin Named Latin Icon at 2025 MTV Video Music Awards

Ricky Martin just made history!

The “Private Emotion” musician was named the inaugural Latin Icon at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, Sept. 7 at New York’s UBS Arena.

“Thank you so much for your love, I don’t even know where to start,” Martin, 53, said on stage after pal Jessica Simpson presented his award.

“This is very simple. This is for you all… I am addicted to your applause,” he continued. “That’s why I keep coming back. It’s you, not only here in America, but all of the world.”

Martin added: “Thank you so much because it’s been 40 years. I started when I was a baby, and we’re still here. We just want to unite countries, we just want to break boundaries. We just want to keep music alive.”

Then, Martin dedicated the award to his four kids, twins Matteo and Valentino, daughter Lucia and son Renn. (Martin welcomed Matteo and Valentino, 17, via surrogate as a single dad. Later, with then-husband Jwan Yosef, the exes welcomed daughter Lucia, 6, and son Renn, 5, via surrogate nine months apart).

“Everything I do, I do it with you in my mind and in my heart,” he said, before shouting out members of his team.

“And that’s it! I love you,” Martin concluded.

Ahead of accepting the honor, he delivered an energetic medley of his hit tracks, including “Livin’ la Vida Loca,” “Pégate,” “Shake Your Bon-Bon,” “Vente Pa’ Ca,” “María” and “La Copa de la Vida.”

LL Cool J is hosting this year’s awards show, which will also feature performances from Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter, Sombr, Alex Warren, J Balvin featuring DJ Snake, Post Malone, Doja Cat, Jelly Roll, Conan Gray and Tate McRae, among others.

Bailey Zimmerman featuring The Kid LAROI, Lola Young and Megan Moroney will perform at the VMAs Extended Play Stage, presented by Doritos, where Young, 24, will sing “Messy,” while Moroney, 27, will sing “6 Months Later.”

Click here to see all of PEOPLE’s MTV VMAs coverage.

Also performing will be special honorees Mariah Carey and Busta Rhymes, in addition to Martin.

Set to present at the awards show are Ashlee Simpson, Ciara and more, as well asEJAE, REI AMI and Audrey Nuna, who make up the fictional group Huntr/x from Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters, Drew Barrymore, Livvy Dunne, The Hunting Wives’ Brittany Snow and Malin Akerman, Meg Stalter, Nikki Glaser, Paris Hilton, Ice Spice and Latto.

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+.