Mariah Carey's Full Biography
Mariah Carey's incredible music career began at a young age when she signed with Columbia Records at the age of 18. Her debut album showcased her undeniable talent, as it produced four chart-topping singles, such as "Vision of Love" and "I Don't Wanna Cry." Throughout the years, Carey continued to release numerous successful albums under different record labels, solidifying her status as one of the most commercially successful artists in history. With an impressive 19 No. 1 hits and over 200 million records sold, Mariah Carey's fiery talent has undeniably stood the test of time.
Early Life/Education
Mariah Carey, a renowned singer and songwriter, has always possessed a remarkable talent for music. Even at the tender age of two, she astounded her mother with her ability to mimic operatic singing.
Recognizing her innate gift, Carey's mother enrolled her in singing lessons when she turned four. With time, her voice flourished and expanded to encompass an impressive five octaves. After completing her education at Harborfields High School in Greenlawn, New York in 1987, Carey decided to pursue her dreams in Manhattan. While surviving as a waitress and coat check girl during the day, she dedicated her nights to writing songs and relentlessly chasing after a career in music.
Career
Tommy Mottola, an executive at Columbia Records, recognized Mariah Carey's potential after coming across her demo tape in 1988. With her 1990 debut album, Mariah Carey showcased her exceptional vocal range by skillfully blending gospel, pop, and rhythm and blues music.
The album's remarkable success led to Carey receiving prestigious accolades, including the Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocalist Grammy Awards in 1991. Furthermore, the title track from her subsequent album, “Emotions”, topped the charts as her fifth consecutive number-one single that year.
After that, there were several highly successful albums that followed, such as “Music Box” (1993), “Daydream” (1995), and the festive “Merry Christmas” (1994). These albums resonated with the audience, each selling approximately 10 million copies. Notably, “Merry Christmas” featured the timeless holiday hit "All I Want for Christmas Is You," a song that has earned its place as one of the best-selling songs in history and a cherished holiday favorite. Additionally, Carey complemented her musical prowess by releasing captivating music videos that further solidified her presence on MTV, establishing herself as a fixture on the popular cable network.
Collaborating on her songs with the likes of ODB, Puff Daddy, and Jay-Z was a way of Carey breaking the mold her record label had fit her into. She wanted to expand her image. Carey's album “Butterfly”, released in 1997, highlighted her ongoing passion for hip-hop and R&B with 11 original tracks. Following that success, her 1998 album “#1's” included not only 13 of her previous chart-topping hits but also the Academy Award-nominated collaboration "The Prince of Egypt (When You Believe)" with fellow pop sensation Whitney Houston.
Despite signing a lucrative $80 million contract with Virgin Records in 2001, Carey's career was interrupted shortly after when she required hospitalization due to her unpredictable actions, resulting in a setback. In 2018, Carey opened up about being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, shedding light on the challenges she had faced.
Additionally, she starred in the 2001 semi-autobiographical film Glitter, but unfortunately, the album that accompanied it failed to perform well.
As a consequence, Virgin decided to sever ties with Carey in 2002. Subsequently, she embarked on a new journey by signing a record deal with Island/Def Jam later that year. However, her debut effort under the label, Charm Bracelet (2002), unfortunately did not meet the desired expectations.
Her follow-up album, "The Emancipation of Mimi," released in 2005, was not only a critical and commercial success, but also managed to sell more than six million copies and top the US charts. This remarkable achievement was further recognized by three Grammy Awards, including one for best contemporary R&B album.
Additionally, with the release of "Touch My Body" from "E=MC2" (2008), Carey made history by surpassing Elvis Presley's record for the most number one singles on the Billboard singles chart.
Although she currently falls just two songs short of the Beatles' record, this accomplishment is undoubtedly a testament to Carey's enduring impact on the music industry.
In addition to her other successful albums, Mariah Carey also released “Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel" in 2009, “Merry Christmas II You" in 2010 (her second holiday album), and “Me. I Am Mariah: The Elusive Chanteuse” in 2014.
However, it was with her 15th studio album, “Caution” (2018), that enforced her position as one of the top acts in the industry. Debuting at No. 5 in the U.S. and receiving recognition on several "albums of the year" lists, Carey once again proved her artistic prowess and ability to captivate audiences.
Business Ventures
In 2017, Forbes reported that Mariah Carey launched her own record label, which she called Butterfly MC Records. The label has a joint partnership deal with Epic Records.
In 2020, Mariah Carey ventured into the food world using a ghost kitchen to help her produce Mariah’s Cookies. They are available for order on their site, or you can enter your zip code to see if there is a ghost kitchen near by you.
Personal Life
In June 1993, Carey married Mottola in a spectacular ceremony at Manhattan's St. Thomas Episcopal Church. The couple divorced in 1998.
Carey's relationship with rapper/actor Nick Cannon blossomed after he starred in her music video for "Bye Bye," leading to a whirlwind romance.
Surprisingly, just a few months later, the couple tied the knot in a secretive wedding ceremony held in the Bahamas on April 30, 2008. Their love story continued to flourish as they became parents to twins Moroccan and Monroe in 2011. The couple announced their separation in August 2014, after six years of marriage, and their divorce was finalized in 2016.
Net Worth
Mariah Carey has a massive net worth of $340 million. The superstar has made millions with her music career, and ongoing royalties as well as special events like Christmas at Disney World.
Activism
When it comes to raising awareness, Mariah Carey is all in. She uses her platform to do big things for charities as far as raising money goes. Some of her causes include, AIDS, The Fresh Air Fund, BLM, and recovery/relief efforts for those who may have been devastated by hurricanes and such.
