Mariah Carey’s MTV Video Vanguard Award Nod Cements Her as the Gold Standard for Pop and R&B

If the gold standard for the reimagining of pop and R&B had a dictionary definition, Mariah Carey would be it. Her receiving the Video Vanguard Award at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards goes without saying. From her early complex ballads that showcased her five-octave range, to her seamless melding of hip-hop and pop, which made her a mainstream radio mainstay, to making herself the undisputed Queen of Christmas with 1994’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Carey has continuously evolved and carved a lane for those after her. However, her impact shouldn’t be reduced to her charting success or vocal acrobatics. Mariah didn’t just sing songs, she wrote the manuscript for pop stardom and turned vulnerability into a form of power and relatability. 

The world was first introduced to Mariah Carey through her early 1990s ballad, “Vision of Love,” which was followed by numerous chart-toppers that ultimately led to the incomparable “Hero” in 1993, songs that displayed a vocal range like no other. After cementing herself as a ballad powerhouse with literally untouchable vocals, MC would pivot and do a collaboration that was not only unexpected but seemingly redefined the sound of pop and R&B: “Fantasy (Remix)” with Ol’ Dirty Bastard. A record that her label was initially hesitant about became the track that burst the door wide open for genre-blending magic to be made. So much so that 26 years later, the song had a resurgence through Latto sampling it for her highest charting single to date, “Big Energy.”

Despite Mariah’s obvious talent, there were moments when her longevity might have come into question, but doubters were silenced in 2005 when she released her tenth album, The Emancipation of Mimi. It was an offering that fully encompasses all facets of Mariah: the multi-octave singer, the collaborator and the chart-topper. The end result was an international success, notching three Grammy Award wins and becoming her highest-selling release in the U.S. in a decade with sales of over 10 million copies.

Mariah Carey’s influence transcends reinvention. With 19 No. 1 hit songs, proving that her success is beyond hitting high notes. She has not only made herself relatable to students of music, but to younger generations like streamer Kai Cenat, who recently sat with her during his “Mafiathon” livestream.

More than a voice, Mariah has brought extreme poise and glamour to a genre while influencing the shape of pop and R&B. She has singlehandedly redefined longevity and has a legacy that inspires her peers and successors.