Ricky Martin gave a high-energy performance before accepting the Latin Icon Award at the 2025 Video Music Awards, which took place Sunday night in New York.
The singer performed and accepted the inaugural honor, which celebrates Martin’s “four-decade career that launched Latin music and culture into the mainstream,” per MTV. Over the course of his career, Martin has sold more than 70 million albums worldwide and nabbed numerous awards for his music, acting and humanitarian work.
J Balvin took the stage to introduce Martin ahead of his Latin-flavored performance, which kicked off with Martin’s massive hit “Livin’ La Vida Loca” before he launched into a medley of songs. Martin brought the energy as he performed in the audience and onstage.
“Ricky Martin didn’t just set the stage for the Latin music takeover; he had to build it from the ground up in a time where Latin music was almost never played in mainstream radio,” Balvin said in his introduction. “He [broke] barriers with massive hit songs and an unmistakable sound and inspired me and so many Latinos performers.
Martin was presented with the award by Jessica Simpson, who noted that she opened up for the singer on his Livin’ La Vida Loca tour, which took place in late 1999/early 2000, when she was just launching her music career.
“He is my inspiration, one of my idols, and he is still one of the most dynamic performers I know,” Simpson said.
In his speech, Martin thanked the audience for their applause, noting that he’s “addicted” to it, quipping: “That’s why I keep coming back.”
He then noted his 40-year career in music. “I started when I was a baby working and we’re still here,” he marveled, adding: “We just want to unite countries, we just want to break boundaries, and we just want to keep music alive.”
He dedicated the award to his four kids.
Martin’s performance marked anniversary of his first VMAs performance in 1999, when he made history as the first male Latin artist to win for best pop video and became the night’s overall top winner with five awards in total.
The 2025 VMAs aired live coast-to-coast starting at 5 p.m. Sunday from UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, with LL Cool J serving as host. The show aired on CBS for the first time in addition to its longtime home on MTV and streamed live on Paramount+ (for subscribers to the service’s premium plan). (See a list of the wildest VMA moments of all time.)
Former MTV head Van Toffler and his company Gunpowder & Sky produced the 2025 VMAs along with Den of Thieves.
See a list of the 2025 VMA winners and see the stars’ red carpet arrivals.