On an evening in which she was honored with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, Mariah Carey delivered a career-spanning, thoroughly enjoyable medley of hits old and new — and earned a personal tribute from Ariana Grande — at the MTV Video Music Awards, held at the UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. on Sunday night (Sept. 7.).

“She’s given us an anthem for every single occasion,” Grande, who tapped Carey for a “Yes, And?” remix last year, told the arena to introduce the Video Vanguard performance. The Wicked superstar added, “As a vocalist, there’s only one queen, and that’s Mariah.” 

With that, Carey started off the medley with her feathery recent single “Sugar Sweet,” joined by a pair of male dancers in a bedroom backdrop, before the beat abruptly cut to Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s boisterous intro to the “Fantasy” remix. The entire medley functioned as a showcase to Carey’s range as a pop superstar, with “Heartbreaker” getting a roller rink routine (and someone playing Bianca, her alter ego from the video), “Obsessed” featuring a masked menace, and “It’s Like That” bringing its finger-snaps into a ballroom, complete with elegant choreography and playful vocals.

Eventually, “We Belong Together” served as a centerpiece of sorts, with Carey backed by a string orchestra and the applause turning raucous as Grande returned to the stage to hand the superstar her award. Carey and Grande blew each other air kisses, and Grande bowed down to her friend before ceding the stage to Carey, who turned to Grande and proclaimed, “I’m so grateful for you and I’m beyond proud of everything you’ve achieved, girl!”

Carey’s acceptance speech was relatively short, but touched upon her history at the VMAs — including a performance alongside the late Whitney Houston, and her own presentation of the Video Vanguard award to the 2025 ceremony host, LL Cool J — as well as her deep appreciation of the music video as a modern art form. “Music evolves, videos evolve — but the fun, that is eternal!” Carey declared before thanking her fans, the Lambily.

Carey also plugged her upcoming album, Here For It All, during the speech; her first studio album in seven years will be released on Sept. 26, and will include “Sugar Sweet” as well as the previously released single “Type Dangerous.”

Click here for the full winner’s list at the 2025 MTV VMAs.

Post Malone and Jelly Roll beamed into the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards from the Hanover, Germany stop of the pair’s Big Ass Stadium Tour to deliver a rousing performance of their hit 2024 collaboration “Losers.”

Post, donning a Jalen Tolbert Cowboys jersey, began the performance by announcing “Ladies and gentlemen, make some noise for the absolutely immaculate Jelly Roll!” before embracing his co-headliner and kicking off the “Losers” performance. Then Jelly Roll, wearing a black vest and a black tee (with a backwards black Bass Pro Shop hat) took his turn on the mic.

Singing the bridge before the climactic chorus, Post Malone and Jelly Roll put their arms around one another. Then, as the country star duo launched into the big finish, fireworks began shooting off over the Hanover stadium, as Jelly Roll began shouting his thanks to the VMAs and screaming “I love you!”

“Losers” originally appeared on Post Malone’s Billboard 200-topping 2024 country crossover album F-1 Trillion. The song peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100, and made it to No. 12 on Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs chart. The two began on the Big Ass Stadium Tour in April, making their way through the United States before heading to Europe in early August. The tour will wrap in two weeks with a pair of dates at England’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Jelly Roll is nominated for four awards at this year’s VMAs: best hip-hop, video for good (both for his appearance on Eminem’s “Somebody Save Me”), best alternative (for “Lonely Road” with MGK) and best country (for “Liar”). Post Malone is nominated for best collaboration for his Blake Shelton teamup “Pour Me a Drink.”

While ROSÉ already has some VMAs in her back pocket thanks to BLACKPINK’s several wins at the MTV Video Music Awards over the years, the New Zealand/South Korean singer now has one of her own as a solo artist – and the big moment was not lost on her.

Bruno Mars & ROSÉ’s smash “APT.” (which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100) was named the song of the year at the 2025 VMAs on Sunday (Sept. 7) night at the USB Arena in Elmont, N.Y. Taking the stage to accept the honor (Mars was not present at the show), Rosé unfurled a pre-written note and read a well-thought-out, personal speech.

“I feel like this is a really big moment for myself and a lot of other people,” she began before pausing, laughing a bit and continuing. “Thank you so much, Bruno. I can’t believe this. I’m gonna call you after, thank you so much for believing in me.”

ROSÉ then brought it back in time. “Someone asked me the other day what my fear in life was and I was quite shocked at my own response. I had no idea how deeply personal this journey had been for me. I told them I feared that somewhere along this journey of pursuing my dreams I might hit a wall and disappoint my 16-year-old self who grew up always an oddball among society, who wished someday she could be herself and pursue her dreams like anyone else I saw on television.”

Holding her speech and the Moon Person, she declared, “Twelve years later I dedicate this award to my 16-year-old self who dreamed and to all those who have watched me grow into the artist I am today. Every single one of you has put me here…. Now I believe there is no imposter in the world when MTV has given me this award at the VMAs.”

Rosé thanked her team, her label, her fellow BLACKPINK members and “my loyal fans for believing in me.”

“This is a really big moment for 16-year-old me and anyone else who has dreamed of being accepted equally for their hard work,” she said. “As my therapist tells me to do every day, I’d like to thank myself for not giving up even in the toughest of times.”

Ricky Martin‘s big night at the 2025 VMAs on Sunday (Sept. 7) kicked off with a special introduction by J Balvin, who gave a heartfelt speech about the Puerto Rican superstar’s influence and legacy. “Ricky Martin didn’t just set the stage for the Latin takeover, he built it from the ground up,” Balvin said. “He inspired me and so many Latinos. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here.”

Shortly after, the man of the hour, who was also honored with the inaugural Latin Icon Award, took over the stage wearing suit-like attire for the special occasion: an elegant white blazer, black slacks and a bandana around his neck. Some of those clothing items would eventually come off, and, as they did, he performed a megahits medley, kicking off with the fan-favorite, hip-swiveling “Livin’ La Vida Loca.”

With a full band in tow and a troupe of dancers, Ricky went on to perform a riveting set, singing in English and Spanish, and executing enviable dance moves that showcase how dynamic he is on stage. The hits included “Pégate,” “Shake Your Bon-Bon,” “Vente Pa’Ca,” “Maria” and “The Cup of Life,” which had Ariana Grande on her feet, singing and clapping along to the soccer anthem.

After he finished his performance, Jessica Simpson took the stage for a full-circle moment. “Back in 1999, when I was just starting out, the biggest pop star in the world asked me to open up for him on his Livin’ La Vida Loca Tour. It was a dream come true,” she said before handing him the Latin Icon Award. Martin then took center stage to give a short but sweet speech, accepting the special honor.

“This is very simple, this is for you all. Thank you so much for your applause,” he said with a smile from ear to ear. “I’m addicted to your applause, that’s why I keep coming up. It’s you not only here in America, but all over the world. It’s been 40 years. I started when I was a baby, and we’re still here. We just want to unite countries, break boundaries and keep music alive.”

He also went on to dedicate the award to his kids. “Everything I do, I do it with you in my mind and in my heart.”

Martin’s special performance at the VMAs on Sunday at New York’s UBS Arena marked the 26th anniversary of his first VMAs performance, during which he performed “She’s All I Ever Had” and “Livin’ La Vida Loca.”

Watch his performance below: