Mariah Carey Wins BMI Icon Award for Songwriting Excellence

Mariah Carey was late as usual at Friday night's 2012 BMI Urban Music Awards but that didn't stop her from claiming the event's Icon Award, which she was given in recognition of her work as a songwriter.

The "Triumphant" singer, who herself was the night's Chief Guest, arrived an hour after the program kicked off but it was totally worth it, as she looked fabulous in her black dress.

"I'm so humbled by this moment because a lot of people still don't know I write my own songs," the future "American Idol" judge told the audience during her acceptance speech.

She also expressed her excitement to E! News before going on stage by telling the publication: "It's so great. I've been writing songs my whole life, I love it. It's my favorite form of expression and release. Tonight's not really about diva dramatics or gossipy moments, it's about the music and that's what's important to me."

Before her arrival on stage, several singers sang Carey's songs, with the most prominent of them being Fantasia's cover of "Hero."

Despite the press reporters' best efforts to get her to talk about her imminent "American Idol" association, she refused to talk on that subject and simply focused on the 'thanking' part.