| Name | Mariah Carey |
|---|---|
| Age | 54 years |
| Birthday | March 27, 1969 |
| Birthplace | Huntington, New York, United States |
| Relationship Status | Divorced |
| Height | 5‘ 8" |
| Net Worth | $320 million |
| Social Media |
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With her phenomenal five-octave vocal range, signature melismatic singing style, and unparalleled success as a female pop artist, Mariah Carey has cemented herself as one of the most influential singers in modern music history. Often referred to as the "Songbird Supreme" and "Queen of Pop," Carey burst onto the scene in 1990 with her self-titled debut album and went on to achieve levels of fame and success that artists can only dream of.
Discovering Her Voice
Mariah was born in 1969 in Huntington, New York to an opera singer mother and aeronautical engineer father. Her parents divorced when she was just three years old, leaving emotional scars that would resonate throughout her life. However, young Mariah found solace in music and began taking vocal lessons at age four. By six, she was already writing her own songs and wowing her family with her talent.
As a biracial child, Mariah struggled to fit in growing up. She has described feeling like an outsider at school and in her neighborhood. But when she opened her mouth to sing, people took notice of her stunning vocal abilities. Mariah was inspired by soul, R&B, and gospel greats like Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Gladys Knight, and The Clark Sisters.
Debut Album Success
After graduating high school in 1987, Mariah headed to New York City to pursue her musical dreams. She worked multiple jobs as a waitress and coat checker while recording demos and doing small shows around Manhattan clubs. Her incredible 5-octave vocal range and signature use of the whistle register captured the attention of Sony Music executive Tommy Mottola at an industry event in 1988.
Tommy signed the unsigned ingénue to Columbia Records on the spot after hearing her demo tape. Her self-titled debut studio album dropped in 1990 and received widespread critical acclaim. Fueled by hit singles like "Vision of Love", "Someday", and "I Don‘t Wanna Cry", it went on to sell over 15 million copies worldwide. Mariah became the first artist ever to have their first four singles top the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Continued Chart Dominance
The nineties truly belonged to Mariah Carey. Her second album Emotions (1991) debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and scored additional chart-topping singles like the title track and "I Don‘t Wanna Cry." She made history again by being the only artist to ever have their first five singles hit #1 on the Hot 100.
Mariah‘s stunning four-octave range and signature melismatic vocals shone on her third studio album Music Box (1993). It became her highest seller at the time, moving over 30 million units globally. "Dreamlover" and "Hero" both hit #1, and the latter remains one of Mariah‘s most iconic, inspirational songs even 30 years later. Who can forget her tour de force performance of "Hero" at a 9/11 relief telethon?
Her crowning glory of the 90s was the release of Daydream (1995), which contained possibly her most memorable hit "Fantasy." The album was a smash success, debuting at #1 in the U.S. and eventually achieving diamond certification. Mariah cemented herself as the decade‘s definitve pop diva with a streak of chart-topping albums and flawless vocals that no contemporary has managed to replicate.
Recent Projects
Mariah has continued blessing us with her talents into the new millennium. Who could forget her triumphant comeback in 2005 with the multi-Platinum The Emancipation of Mimi, featuring her record-breaking 16th #1 single "We Belong Together"? She stepped into the holiday music canon in 1994 with the quintessential Christmas album Merry Christmas, now certified diamond.
Her latest feats have broken even more records. In 2019, "All I Want for Christmas is You" finally hit #1 on the Hot 100 a full 25 years after its debut. The song consistently tops the holiday charts every December, proving the timelessness of Mariah‘s artistry.
In 2021, Mariah published a children‘s book and launched her own sparkling wine brand. She received the Icon Award at the Billboard Music Awards for her massive contributions to the industry. Now with 19 #1 hits, over 200 million records sold, and more achievements than can be counted, the Songbird Supreme has undeniably earned her title as the Queen of Pop.
Mariah‘s stunning vocals and chart dominance have inspired a generation of musicians. For longtime fans like myself, she will always be the most talented vocalist and living legend of pop music. We can‘t wait to see what she‘ll deliver next!