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Top 20 Interesting Facts about Mariah Carey

Originally published by Faith in February 2023 and updated by Faith in January 2024

Mariah Carey is an American singer who is famed for singing pop. She is considered to be one of the most successful female singers in the music industry. Her remarkable vocal range makes her a good singer as she is able to hit very high notes. Furthermore, her ability to blend different genres from gospel, rhythm and blues and pop. Therefore, this article will explore some twenty interesting facts about the singer so that the reader can get in-depth knowledge about the artist.

1.      Mariah Carey was named after a song

Carey was named after the musical Paint Your Wagon’s song They Call the Wind Mariah. Mariah Angela Carey is her given name. Even though her name is not spelled the same way as the song, it is still pronounced the same. On March 27, 1970, she was born in Huntington, New York, to Irish-American mother Patricia Hickey and African-American/Venezuelan father Alfred Roy Carey.

2.      She had a tough childhood

Mariah Carey was born into a mixed-race family which resulted in her having a Venezuelan, Irish and African American Heritage. Therefore, her mixed heritage made it hard for her to fit in as she did not quite understand where she fit in her diverse heritage. She remembers how people would stare at her when she and her father went shopping. Carey created a picture of her family while she was in kindergarten, and she sketched her father with a brown crayon. Since the teacher didn’t think Carey could have a Black father, she attempted to correct her.

Furthermore, she had a tense relationship with her grandparents because Mariah’s mother being white had married a white person and her parents did not approve. Her grandparents never bothered to create a relationship with Mariah and her siblings as a result of that. In fact, Mariah was the only one invited to family events because she had the fairest skin.

3.      She dropped out of school

Mariah Carey discovered that she had an exceptional voice which gave her purpose as a person and she even got her mother who was a vocal coach to help her. At this time, Carey concluded she wasn’t cut out for school in the eleventh grade. Her peers appeared to have the same sentiment. Carey’s nickname in high school was Mirage due to her propensity for skipping class. Carey dropped out of high school and spent her junior and senior years in a beauty school after deciding against continuing with traditional education. Her voice training and celebrity preparation continued throughout.

4.      She worked odd jobs while starting as a singer

Carey performed a variety of jobs as a young adult at 18 years old in New York City to make ends meet. She worked in a salon as a hostess, waiter, hair sweeper, and coat checker like other artists who are trying to make it in the big city. Her financial situation was difficult, but she eventually found work as a vocalist in New York City. Carey began singing in nightclubs as a background vocalist and ultimately advanced to performing solos.

5.      She won two Grammy Awards for her debut album

Mariah Carey finally caught her big break when she attended a CBS Records party where she met the president of Columbia Records and managed to give him her demo tape. The president took it and was shocked at how good she was and decided to sign her up.

Carey’s debut album, Mariah Carey, which used simply her name as a title, was released in 1990. The album’s four lead singles reached the top of the charts. Carey received $80,000 for her first record deal, and later that year, she won two Grammy Awards for her debut album, winning the titles of “Best Female Artist” and “Best Female Vocalist,” respectively.

6.      One of her songs holds the title for being the longest running number one song in the charts

Mariah Carey’s song that she sang together with Boys II Men known as One Sweet Day topped the charts on the Billboard Hot 100 continuously for sixteen weeks. The artists wrote the song together which makes it fascinating as it shows that the group had exceptional talent. Carey is also known for writing and producing credits on all her pieces which makes it not surprising that she and the band wrote their own music.

7.      She is obsessed with Marylyn Monroe

Carey said to The Guardian in 2014 that her obsession with the actress dates back to the time she was a young child and got a copy of Norman Mailer’s biography of the actress for Christmas. In 1999, Carey spent more than $600,000 at an auction to purchase Monroe’s baby grand piano, and she named her daughter after the actress.

In her recently published memoir, she also revealed that the image of Marilyn Monroe that hung on her bedroom wall served as her lone childhood companion in place of her harsh family. Monroe’s influence on women in Hollywood is one reason for some of her appreciation. She helped open doors for women in Hollywood.

8.      She was married twice

Mariah Carey married her manager Mottola in 1993 after the two had a whirlwind romance despite their age difference as Mariah was 23 years while Mottola was 44 years. However, the marriage did not last long as Mariah came to realise that Mottola was very controlling and thus making her marriage a nightmare.

 Her husband was also terrifying in that one night the couple hosted a dinner party and Mottola became upset and started shouting and threatening her with a butter knife. Mariah finally decided to leave the marriage and she divorced him. Mariah went on and got married to Nick Canon in 2008 but the marriage did not last long either as the couple divorced in 2016.

9.      There is a camp named after her

In celebration of the singer’s election to the board of directors in 1994, the Fresh Air Fund gave its career awareness programme the name “Camp Mariah.” According to its website, the group offers thousands of kids from New York City the chance to enrol in sleepaway camps spread out across the mid-Hudson Valley of New York.

10.  She has several dogs

Mariah Carey has eight Jack Russell terriers.  Mariah’s dogs are living the high life, from spending £28 000 a year on spa treatments for them to travelling with her on a private plane for a five-star “canine holiday” to the opulent Paw Seasons doggie hotel in Bristol, where she gave the staff customised daily menus to follow for each of them.

  11. She is famed for her diva image

Mariah Carey talking to the press. , , via Wikimedia Commons

Mariah Carey’s public identity is inextricably linked to her diva image. Carey, who is well-known for her glitzy appearance, incredible voice, and high standards, has proudly accepted the tag of diva. Her stage performance and public appearances are imbued with an air of refinement, confidence, and regality that epitomises her image.

Carey’s diva image fits with the grandeur of her performances and the lavishness of her music videos. She is well-known for her ornate and opulent costume choices. Beyond the glamour, Carey’s diva reputation is also linked to a strong sense of confidence and high standards for her creative pursuits. Her diva persona, which has contributed to the larger-than-life demeanour that has defined her long career, endures despite sporadic controversies.

12 She loves butterflies

Butterfly affinities are a unique and significant part of Mariah Carey’s personal and professional identity. For Carey, the butterfly pattern is symbolic of metamorphosis, rebirth, and human development. She has used butterflies in stage designs, album covers and even her jewellery line over her career.

According to Carey, butterflies are particularly meaningful to her since they represent overcoming obstacles and developing into a better version of oneself. Her 1997 album “Butterfly,” which was a turning point in her life and artistic development, best illustrates the concept. Her public appearances consistently feature butterfly imagery, which serves to highlight the notion of resilience and beauty arising from life’s transforming experiences.

13. Mariah Carey is an entrepreneur

A picture of Mariah Carey. , , via Wikimedia Commons

Apart from her distinguished musical career, Mariah Carey has also dabbled in business. Notably, she introduced a popular line of fragrances, which helped her brand grow. The fragrance brand, which comes in a variety of aromas, showcases Mariah’s unique taste and has been extremely successful commercially, which adds to her overall business savvy.

Carey also ventured into the jewellery industry by starting her own jewellery brand. Her influence as a musician is demonstrated by her business venture, but it also highlights her as a cunning businessman with an eye for elegance and style. Mariah’s entry into the jewellery and fragrance industries is evidence of her ability to broaden her interests, make a name for herself in the cutthroat industry, and cultivate relationships with fans.

14. He was bestowed the Hollywood star of fame

In 2015, Mariah Carey was bestowed with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, an esteemed accolade exclusively bestowed upon individuals who have rendered noteworthy contributions to the entertainment sector. The star is located at 6270 Hollywood Boulevard. This honour highlighted Mariah’s continuing influence on the mainstream music, film, and cultural landscape. Fans, other artists, and business executives flocked to the Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony to commemorate her extraordinary career. The star recognises her impact as a singer, songwriter, actress, and general industry innovator and acts as a lasting tribute to her standing as a legendary figure in the entertainment business.

15. She has collaborated with several high-profile artists

The singer performing on stage. , , via Wikimedia Commons

Mariah Carey’s artistic legacy has been greatly enhanced by her collaborative efforts with other artists. Among her most renowned partnerships is the duet “When You Believe” that she did with Whitney Houston for the soundtrack of the animated feature “The Prince of Egypt.” The pair won an Academy Award for Best Original tune and received critical acclaim for their stirring tune.

The hit ballad “One Sweet Day,” which is currently the longest-running number-one single in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 list, was also a collaboration between Carey and Boyz II Men. Her duet with Jay-Z on “Heartbreaker” further demonstrated her flexibility by skillfully fusing hip-hop and pop themes. These partnerships highlighted Mariah’s prominence as a musical force and showed her versatility in working with many genres.

16 Mariah Carey can play the piano

Mariah Carey is a phenomenal vocalist, but she has never boasted about her piano skills. Despite having studied classical music for more than ten years as a young student, she maintains that her playing is merely at a beginner’s level. Carey has stressed in a number of interviews throughout the years that her voice was always her primary instrument and never the piano. Carey writes tunes and melodies using her rudimentary piano skills, but for most of her albums, more experienced session musicians play the piano portions. Fans have occasionally witnessed Carey demonstrate her piano skills at small parties and extremely private performances.

17 Mariah Carey is obsessed with Christmas

Pop superstar Mariah Carey stops by the Library of Congress Christmas tree during a tour. , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Throughout her career, Mariah Carey has declared her passion for the Christmas season.  Because she is so passionate about the holiday, Carey even decorates Christmas trees and leaves them up all year long at her residence. She claims that Christmas brings back pleasant memories from her early years, and she makes a big deal out of the holiday each year to relive the magic.  Her two Christmas records, which include both original music and covers, have become beloved holiday classics. Through her heartfelt performance of “O Holy Night” and her cheerful hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Mariah Carey’s Christmas music expresses her unconditional love for the most wonderful time of the year.

18 She has some nicknames

A number of adoring nicknames for Mariah Carey are frequently used to highlight her legendary status in the music business. The most well-known monikers attached to her are “Songbird Supreme” and “The Queen of Christmas.” The former highlights her unmatched success with the timeless holiday hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” which has grown to be a staple of joyous occasions all around the world. Mariah has become a seasonal music legend due to her affinity with Christmas music. The latter, “Songbird Supreme,” demonstrates her magnificent voice and unmatched vocal prowess. By highlighting the exceptional range, strength, and emotional depth of her voice, this moniker highlights her status as one of the best vocalists in modern music.

19 Mariah has ventured into film

Among the many facets of Mariah Carey’s career, her entry into acting has been noteworthy. Though Carey first became well-known for her powerful voice, she also made her cinematic debut in the 1999 love drama “The Bachelor.” On the other hand, the release of “Glitter” in 2001, a movie in which she appeared and contributed to the soundtrack—marked her most noteworthy Hollywood moment. Though it was met with obstacles and negative reviews, Carey’s portrayal of a social worker in “Precious” won her honours and recognition, and it was hailed as a breakthrough performance in her acting career. Mariah Carey’s aptitude for transferring from music to the big screen has been evident throughout her cinematic career.

20 She was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder

Mariah Carey was admitted to the hospital in 2001 due to a mental and physical collapse, and she was later diagnosed with bipolar II.  In interviews conducted throughout the years, she has been frank about having the illness. Carey has gone through periods of depression, hypomania, severe mood swings, and sleeplessness. She started receiving therapy and medication after being diagnosed, which helped to stabilise her. But Carey says she still experiences the highs and lows associated with having bipolar disorder. She needs to take good care of herself, get enough sleep, and closely check her stress levels. Carey felt alone despite her success because of her bipolar disorder. She now works to increase awareness in order to assist those who are dealing with mental health problems.

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