Beyond simply being one of pop culture’s highest honors, receiving the Video Vanguard Award at Sunday’s VMAs was especially meaningful for Mariah Carey , as it marked a full-circle moment for the singer and the ceremony.

Carey presented this very award to LL Cool J back in 1997, and who should happen to be hosting the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards? Why, none other than Mr. NCIS: Los Angeles himself. That has to mean something, right? Maybe just really good scheduling? Well done, producers.

With all respect to LL, however, the VMAs managed to wrangle someone even bigger to present Carey with her big award — fellow whistle tone queen Ariana Grande ! She introduced Carey as “one of the reasons so many of us sing.” Related Stories

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