Mariah Carey’s First BET Award: Why Now For The Ultimate Icon?

In a moment of pure, unadulterated stardom, Mariah Carey illuminated the BET Awards, showcasing both the magic of her presence and her enduring legacy with her first BET Award. She launched into a captivating dance-filled performance of her new track, “Type Dangerous,” before wrapping up with a nostalgic outro nod to her hit “It’s Like That.” Her ensemble—a glittering metallic gold minidress by Morphew Atelier, matching heels, and an abundance of bedazzled jewelry—perfectly blended disco glam with a fresh, 2025 edge. Her hair and makeup: It’s Like That, 20 years ago.

Then came the moment: the Icon Award. Introduced with reverence by her longtime friend and I Know What You Want collaborator, Busta Rhymes, Mariah took the stage to accept the honor. “I heard this is my first BET award… might as well start with an Icon award,” she quipped, smiling with her signature blend of humor and poise. But she didn’t stop there—Mariah opened up with an unexpected note of vulnerability, adding, “I’ve now learned that life is too short to expect anybody’s validation.” It was real, raw, and resonant.

But it also begged the question: Why is this Mariah Carey’s first-ever BET Award?

After all, the introduction before her Icon win listed off decades’ worth of triumphs: five Grammy Awards, 19 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles, over 200 million records sold, and a legacy cemented in music history. So why had BET—the network specifically designed to celebrate Black excellence in entertainment—not honored her until now?

Understanding the BET Awards

The BET Awards were founded in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment. Unlike the Grammys or American Music Awards, which date back many decades, the BET Awards emerged well after Mariah Carey’s most dominant decade—the 1990s, when she released landmark albums like Music Box, Daydream, and Butterfly.

Two Reasons Behind the Delay

1. Timing: Most of Her Record-Smashing Era Pre-Dates BET Awards

By the time the first BET Awards aired in 2001, Mariah had already changed the landscape of pop and R&B. She’d broken records, married genres, and redefined vocal mastery. But her peak commercial success—most of her No. 1s and era-defining performances—came during a time when the BET Awards simply didn’t exist. If they had, she likely would have been a fixture.

2. Mariah’s Complex Relationship with Identity and Community

Mariah has been open for decades about the fact that she never fully “fit” anywhere. She was ostracized from white spaces because of her Black father, but also never fully embraced in Black communities due to her light complexion and ability to “pass.” That privilege, perceived or real, caused friction—even within her own family. Her maternal grandmother reportedly accepted Mariah due to her white appearance but rejected her darker-skinned siblings, breeding resentment that was later echoed by her own sister.

The public can also be seen commenting on every mention of the event, “she’s not even black”, “she shouldn’t be there taking away from our sisters”, illustrating how complex this multirracial double standard has always lead to that feeling of never fitting in anywhere.

In a system where BET’s voting body consists of over 500 Black entertainment professionals, it’s very possible—though unconfirmed—that Mariah’s white-passing identity didn’t always align with what some viewed as culturally representative of Black struggle or expression. And when the BET Awards aim to shine a spotlight on under-celebrated Black talent, Mariah Carey—already a multi-million household name, already a chart titan—may have seemed like she didn’t “need” it.

Mariah Carey doesn’t need more awards—her New York apartment has an entire room dedicated to gold, platinum, and diamond plaques, plus a sea of Grammy, Billboard, and American Music Awards statuettes.

And yet, with every snub, every meme, every public takedown, Mariah reemerges radiant. She returns not with bitterness but with music. With legacy. With strength. She keeps going—not because she has to, but because she wants to.

In a world quick to sideline women past 40 – a form of ageism often enforced by other women themselves, starkly contrasting the experience of men who rarely face such abrupt dismissal – and particularly women of color, Mariah’s continued output is not just admirable—it’s revolutionary. She could vanish from public life and remain a legend. But instead, she offers new work, knowing full well the scrutiny that comes with visibility.

So yes, this is her first BET Award. But it’s far from her first moment of impact and, thankfully, will not be her last. And to the fans—those witnessing one of the last living legends still releasing fresh, meaningful music—this Icon Award isn’t overdue. It’s the affirmation of what we’ve always known: Mariah Carey is eternal.