Ahead of receiving this year's Video Vanguard Award, Mariah Carey serenaded audiences with a medley of some of her greatest hits.

Dressed in a luxurious, champagne-colored robe, Carey kicked things off with "Sugar Sweet," before going into "Fantasy," "Heartbreaker," Obsessed," and "It's Like That." She finished the medley with her beloved chart-topper, "We Belong Together."

Ariana Grande returned to the stage to hand Carey her Moon Person. The "Touch My Body" singer-songwriter then delivered a moving speech in which she reflected on her career — and joked about how long it's taken MTV to recognize her achievements.

"Thank you so much, MTV, for giving me the Vanguard Award. I can't believe I'm getting my first VMA tonight. I just have one question: What in the Sam Hell were you waiting for?!"

Carey continued, "Music videos are my way of life, of bringing music to my own life. Mini movies visualizing the sheer fantasy of it all."

She then referenced a slew of iconic music video moments throughout her career, like "going in drag for 'Obsessed,' playing my alter ego, Bianca, in 'Heartbreaker,' escaping the mob in 'Honey' with a hot guy on a remote island."

Carey added, "Music evolves, videos evolve, but the fun? That is eternal."