Mariah Carey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mariah Carey
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Carey in 2023
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| Born | March 27, 1969 |
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| Years active | 1988–present |
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Works
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| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Full list |
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| Instruments | Vocals |
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Mariah Carey (born March 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. She is known for her amazing five-octave vocal range and unique singing style. Rolling Stone magazine even called her one of the greatest singers of all time in 2023.
Mariah became famous in 1990 with her first album, Mariah Carey. She was the only artist to have her first five songs reach number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. These hits included "Vision of Love" and "Emotions". She became a global superstar with albums like Music Box (1993) and Daydream (1995). Later, she started mixing her pop sound with hip hop in albums like Butterfly (1997). Her song "Fantasy" helped make pop and hip-hop blends popular. Billboard named her the most successful artist of the 1990s. After a tough period, she made a big comeback with The Emancipation of Mimi (2005), which became one of the best-selling albums of the 21st century.
Mariah Carey is also known as the "Queen of Christmas" because of her popular holiday music. Her album Merry Christmas (1994) is the best-selling holiday album ever. Its song "All I Want for Christmas Is You" is the best-selling holiday song by a female artist. Besides music, she has acted in movies like Precious (2009) and The Lego Batman Movie (2017). She was also a judge on American Idol in 2013. In 2020, she released her memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey.
Mariah Carey is one of the world's best-selling music artists, with over 220 million records sold. She has won many awards, including 5 Grammy Awards. She holds the record for the most number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 by a solo artist (19). Her songs "One Sweet Day" and "We Belong Together" were named the most successful songs of the 1990s and 2000s by Billboard.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Mariah Carey was born on March 27, 1969, in Huntington, New York. Her father was African American and Afro-Venezuelan, and her mother was Irish. She is the youngest of three children. Her parents divorced when she was three years old. Mariah started playing piano when she was a young girl and loved to sing.
How Mariah Carey Started Her Career
In December 1988, Mariah gave her demo tape to Tommy Mottola, the head of Columbia Records. He loved it so much that he spent two weeks looking for her after she left the party. Other record labels were also interested, but Mariah signed with Columbia. She worked with producers like Ric Wake and Narada Michael Walden on her first album.
Columbia Records promoted Mariah as their main female artist. On June 5, 1990, she sang "America the Beautiful" at the 1990 NBA Finals. Her amazing high notes impressed everyone. Her first album, Mariah Carey, became very popular. It was number one on the US Billboard 200 chart for eleven weeks. She won awards for Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for her song "Vision of Love" at the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards. The album's songs "Vision of Love", "Love Takes Time", "Someday", and "I Don't Wanna Cry" all reached number one. Mariah Carey was the best-selling album in the United States in 1991, selling 15 million copies worldwide.
Mariah's Second Album and Live Performances
Mariah co-wrote and co-produced her second album, Emotions, released in 1991. She wanted it to sound like Motown soul music. The song "Emotions" became her fifth number-one hit, making her the first artist to have their first five singles reach the top spot. Even though critics liked the album, it didn't sell as well as her first one.
Mariah didn't go on a world tour for Emotions. Some people thought she was afraid to perform live or that her voice was only good in the studio. To prove them wrong, she appeared on MTV Unplugged. This show featured artists performing without studio equipment. Mariah's live version of "I'll Be There" became her sixth number-one single. Sony released her performance as an extended play (EP), which sold millions of copies.
Big Success with Music Box and Merry Christmas
Mariah married Tommy Mottola on June 5, 1993. Her next album, Music Box, was made to be more pop-friendly. It was released on August 31, 1993. Critics had mixed feelings, but the album was a huge success. Its songs "Dreamlover" and "Hero" became her seventh and eighth number-one hits in the US. Her cover of "Without You" was her first number-one song in Germany, Sweden, and the UK. Music Box is Mariah's best-selling album, with over 28 million copies sold worldwide.
In 1994, Mariah released Merry Christmas, which became the best-selling Christmas album ever. Its lead single, "All I Want for Christmas Is You", became a holiday classic and is still incredibly popular every year. By 2017, it had sold over 16 million copies worldwide.
Changing Her Sound with Daydream
Mariah's fifth album, Daydream, released in 1995, showed her taking more control over her music. She moved away from pure pop and added more R&B and hip hop sounds. Critics loved it, calling it her best album yet. The first single, "Fantasy", was the first song by a female artist to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
"One Sweet Day", a song with the R&B group Boyz II Men, stayed at number one for a record-breaking 16 weeks. This made it the longest-running number-one song at the time. The album's third single, "Always Be My Baby", became her eleventh number-one hit. Daydream became Mariah's biggest-selling album in the United States and sold over 20 million copies globally.
Mariah went on her first international tour, the Daydream World Tour, in 1996. Forbes magazine named her the top-earning female musician that year.
New Style with Butterfly and Rainbow
Mariah continued to blend hip hop and R&B into her music. Her album Butterfly, released in 1997, featured new producers like Sean Combs and Missy Elliott. Critics praised Butterfly for its mature themes. Songs like "Honey" and "My All" topped the Hot 100, giving Mariah the most number-one singles for a female artist at the time.
In 1998, Mariah released #1's, a collection of her number-one hits. It included a duet with Whitney Houston, "When You Believe". This album was incredibly popular in Japan, selling over a million copies in its first week.
Her next album, Rainbow, came out in 1999. Songs like "Heartbreaker" and "Thank God I Found You" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Rainbow was generally well-received by critics.
Overcoming Challenges and Making a Comeback
Challenges and New Beginnings
In 2001, Mariah signed a big new record deal with Virgin Records. She worked on a film and its soundtrack called Glitter, which was set in the 1980s. Around this time, Mariah went through a difficult period and needed to take a break for her health. Both the film and its soundtrack faced challenges and did not do well.
Mariah later signed with Island Records and started her own record label, MonarC. In 2002, she acted in the independent film WiseGirls, and her performance was praised.
In December 2002, Mariah released her ninth album, Charmbracelet. Sales were moderate, and some critics felt her voice sounded different. To support the album, she went on the Charmbracelet World Tour, performing in North America and Asia. Many praised her vocals and the show's production.
A Big Comeback with The Emancipation of Mimi
Mariah's tenth album, The Emancipation of Mimi, released in 2005, marked a huge comeback. She worked with producers like Kanye West and Jermaine Dupri. Critics loved the album, and it became number one in the United States.
The album's second single, "We Belong Together", was a massive hit. It stayed at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for fourteen weeks, becoming one of the longest-running number-one songs in US chart history. Billboard called it the "song of the decade." In 2005, Mariah made history by being the first woman to have two songs in the top two spots on the Hot 100 at the same time.
The Emancipation of Mimi was the best-selling album in the United States in 2005. It sold over 12 million copies worldwide. Mariah won three Grammy Awards for the album, including Best Contemporary R&B Album. She then went on The Adventures of Mimi tour, which was very successful.
More Music and Movies
In 2008, Mariah released her eleventh album, E=MC². Its lead single, "Touch My Body", became her eighteenth number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100. This meant she had more number-one singles than any other solo artist in US history, second only to The Beatles.
Mariah also acted in the film Tennessee (2008) and had a small role in You Don't Mess with the Zohan. In 2009, she played a social worker in the critically acclaimed film Precious, and her acting was highly praised.
Her twelfth album, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, was released in 2009. The lead single, "Obsessed", reached the top ten in the US.
Christmas Albums and TV Appearances
In 2010, Mariah released her second Christmas album, Merry Christmas II You, which included new songs and a remix of "All I Want for Christmas Is You". She also recorded duets with Tony Bennett and Justin Bieber.
In 2013, Mariah joined the judging panel for the twelfth season of American Idol. She also appeared in Lee Daniels' film The Butler. In 2014, she released her fourteenth album, Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse.
Mariah started her annual Christmas residency show, All I Want for Christmas Is You: A Night of Joy and Festivity, in New York City in 2014. It became a popular holiday tradition.
Recent Projects and Recognition
In 2015, Mariah signed with Epic Records and started a new Las Vegas residency called #1 to Infinity, featuring all her number-one hits. She also directed and starred in the Hallmark Channel Christmas movie A Christmas Melody. In 2016, she went on The Sweet Sweet Fantasy Tour in Europe and South Africa. She also filmed Mariah's World, a docu-series about her tour and life.
In 2017, Mariah voiced the Mayor of Gotham City in The Lego Batman Movie. She also went on tour with Lionel Richie. Her animated Christmas film, Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You, was released in 2017. She returned to perform on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve in 2017, after a challenging performance the year before.
In 2018, Mariah launched a new Las Vegas residency, The Butterfly Returns. She released her fifteenth studio album, Caution, which received great reviews. In 2019, "All I Want for Christmas Is You" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time, becoming her nineteenth chart-topper.
In 2020, Mariah was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. She released her memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey, which became a New York Times Best Seller. She also released The Rarities, an album of rare and unreleased songs. Her Christmas special, Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special, premiered on Apple TV+.
In 2022, Mariah released a children's picture book called The Christmas Princess. She also co-produced the Broadway musical Some Like It Hot, which was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Musical. In 2023, she went on her Merry Christmas One and All! tour. In 2024, she started a new residency in Las Vegas called The Celebration of Mimi.
Mariah Carey's Unique Artistry
Musical Influences and Style
Mariah Carey has been influenced by many artists since she was a child. These include Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Stevie Wonder, and Aretha Franklin. She also loves gospel music and credits singers like Shirley Caesar for inspiring her. When she started adding hip hop to her music, some people were surprised, but Mariah said she grew up listening to it. She admires rappers like the Sugarhill Gang and The Notorious B.I.G..
Mariah is known for her amazing vocal range and unique singing style. She often uses her whistle register, which is a very high vocal sound. She also writes and produces her own music, which makes her stand out from many other singers. Her songs often talk about love, but she also writes about deeper feelings like loss and spirituality.
Mariah's music often uses electronic instruments like drum machines and keyboards. She learned to play the piano at a young age. She can't read sheet music but loves to create melodies with a pianist. She believes her voice is her most important instrument.
Mariah also helped make remixes popular by recording new vocals for them. She worked with DJs like David Morales to turn her R&B songs into house music hits. Her remix of "Fantasy" with Ol' Dirty Bast**d helped popularize the trend of pop and hip hop artists working together.
Her Amazing Voice
Mariah Carey has a five-octave vocal range. Many critics describe her as a coloratura soprano, which means she can sing very high and with great flexibility. Her voice can go from a deep, husky sound to incredibly high "dog-whistle" notes.
Mariah has said she has nodules on her vocal cords since childhood, which help her sing in such a high register. She practices a lot to keep her voice balanced. She is also known for her vocal improvisation, meaning she can make up melodies and runs on the spot.
Later in her career, she started using more breathy vocals, which critics saw as a sign of maturity. Her voice has been described as "buttery" and "unbelievably identifiable."
Live Shows and Music Videos
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Even though Mariah is a huge star, she used to have stage fright early in her career. Her performance on MTV Unplugged helped prove that her vocals were real and not just studio tricks. Her singing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Super Bowl XXXVI was called "stunning."
Mariah is known for focusing on her vocals during live performances. She often uses her hands to express the music, which fans love to mimic.
Mariah has also directed and co-produced many of her music videos. The video for "Fantasy" was the first one she directed herself. Her videos for "Honey" and "Heartbreaker" were very expensive to make and showed a more confident and free Mariah. Billboard magazine ranked her among the greatest music video artists of all time.
Mariah Carey's Impact and Achievements
Cultural Impact
Mariah Carey is considered a pop icon and a fashion icon. Guinness World Records has called her the "Songbird Supreme." She has a strong personality that fans admire. She has also been praised for helping to break down racial barriers in music.
Mariah is known for popularizing melisma, a singing style where a singer holds a syllable and sings many notes on it. Many artists today, like Christina Aguilera and Beyoncé, have been influenced by her vocal style.
Her song "All I Want for Christmas Is You" and the album Merry Christmas are so popular that Mariah is now known as the "Queen of Christmas." She often wears holiday-themed outfits for her Christmas shows and videos.
Awards and Honors
Mariah Carey has won many awards throughout her career. She has six Grammy Awards, nineteen World Music Awards, ten American Music Awards, and twenty Billboard Music Awards. She is one of the best-selling recording artists ever, with over 220 million records sold.
She is also in the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame. In 2015, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2023, she received the BRIT Billion Award for having over one billion streams in the United Kingdom.
Other Activities
Business Ventures
Mariah Carey has also been involved in many business projects. In 2006, she worked with Intel and launched a jewelry line called Glamorized. She also partnered with Pepsi and Motorola.
In 2007, she released her own perfume, "M," with Elizabeth Arden. This deal has earned her a lot of money. She has released several other fragrances since then. In 2010, she launched a collection of jewelry, shoes, and fragrances on HSN. She also became a brand ambassador for Jenny Craig, Inc. in 2011. In 2019, she signed a big deal with Walkers crisps for their Christmas campaign. In 2020, she launched a biscuit line called Mariah's Cookies. In 2021, she launched her own alcohol brand, Black Irish, and partnered with McDonald's for a special menu. She also teaches a singing course on MasterClass.
Helping Others (Philanthropy)
Mariah Carey is a kind person who supports many charities. She helped create Camp Mariah in New York, which helps young people from the city explore arts and career opportunities. She has received awards for her charity work with young people.
Mariah has donated money from her songs "Hero" and "One Sweet Day" to charities. She has worked with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, helping children with serious illnesses. She also supports the Police Athletic League of New York City. In 2008, she became a Hunger Ambassador for the World Food Programme.
She has performed at many benefit concerts, including VH1 Divas specials, which raise money for music education. She also performed at fundraisers after the September 11 attacks and for Hurricane Katrina relief. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she participated in telethons to raise money for those affected.
Personal Life
Mariah Carey has spoken about her strong faith. She believes that she has been given many chances in life and that God guides her.
Mariah married Tommy Mottola in 1993. Their relationship became difficult due to creative differences and his controlling nature. They separated in 1996 and divorced in 1998.
She later dated baseball player Derek Jeter and singer Luis Miguel. In 2008, she married actor and comedian Nick Cannon. They had fraternal twins, Moroccan and Monroe, on April 30, 2011. They separated in 2014 and divorced in 2016.
In 2015, Mariah started dating Australian billionaire James Packer, and they were engaged, but they called off the engagement in 2016. She then began dating choreographer Bryan Tanaka. In December 2023, they announced they had parted ways.
Discography
- Mariah Carey (1990)
- Emotions (1991)
- Music Box (1993)
- Merry Christmas (1994)
- Daydream (1995)
- Butterfly (1997)
- Rainbow (1999)
- Glitter (2001)
- Charmbracelet (2002)
- The Emancipation of Mimi (2005)
- E=MC² (2008)
- Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel (2009)
- Merry Christmas II You (2010)
- Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse (2014)
- Caution (2018)
Filmography
- The Bachelor (1999)
- Glitter (2001)
- WiseGirls (2002)
- Death of a Dynasty (2003)
- State Property 2 (2005)
- Tennessee (2008)
- You Don't Mess with the Zohan (2008)
- Precious (2009)
- The Butler (2013)
- A Christmas Melody (2015)
- Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)
- The Keys of Christmas (2016)
- The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
- Girls Trip (2017)
- The Star (2017)
- All I Want for Christmas Is You (2017)
- Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special (2020)
- Mariah's Christmas: The Magic Continues (2021)
Tours and Residencies
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Headlining Tours
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Co-headlining Tours
Residencies
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Images for kids
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Carey in 2023
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Carey in 1990, promoting her song "Vision of Love"
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Carey performing "One Sweet Day" with Boyz II Men in 1995
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Mariah Carey with L.A. Reid at her album release party in 2005
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Stevie Wonder
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Aretha Franklin
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Carey using her in-ear monitor during her Caution World Tour in 2019
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Mariah Carey with her twins in 2019
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In Spanish: Mariah Carey para niños
- List of best-selling singles
- List of best-selling albums
- List of best-selling music artists in the United States
- List of Billboard Hot 100 chart achievements and milestones
- List of artists who reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100
- List of artists who reached number one on the US dance chart
- Artists with the most number-ones on the US dance chart
- Forbes list of highest-earning musicians
- List of music artists by net worth
- List of largest music deals
