Mariah Carey is a highly influential American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress, often referred to as the "Songbird Supreme." Celebrated for her impressive five-octave vocal range, melismatic style, and distinctive use of the whistle register, she has achieved widespread recognition and acclaim. In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked her as the fifth greatest singer of all time, solidifying her status as a significant figure in the music industry.
In 1951, the Broadway musical Paint Your Wagon featured the song "They Call the Wind Maria", which inspired Mariah Carey's name.
On March 27, 1969, Mariah Carey was born. She later became a singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress known for her vocal range and influence in music.
In 1970, The Jackson 5 released the song "I'll Be There", which Mariah Carey later covered for her MTV Unplugged performance.
In 1983, The setting of Mariah Carey's musical departure Glitter, recreating a 1980s post-disco era to accompany the film.
In 1987, Mariah Carey graduated from Harborfields High School in Greenlawn, New York, marking the end of her secondary education.
In December 1988, Mariah Carey gave her demo tape to Tommy Mottola, the head of Columbia Records, which led to her being signed to the label.
On June 5, 1990, Mariah Carey made her first public appearance at the 1990 NBA Finals, singing "America the Beautiful."
In 1990, Mariah Carey rose to fame with her self-titled debut album, marking the beginning of her successful music career.
In response to the murder of George Floyd, Mariah Carey in 1990 took to social media and sang a snippet of her 1990 song "There's Got to Be a Way" while encouraging fans to demand justice.
Mariah Carey celebrated the 30th anniversary of her debut album throughout 2020, with the first release being The Live Debut - 1990.
Mariah Carey's debut hit from 1990, "Vision of Love", set the bar insanely high for notes stretched louder, longer and knottier than most pop fans had ever heard.
In 1991, Mariah Carey co-wrote, co-produced, and recorded her second studio album, Emotions, as a homage to Motown soul music.
In 1991, Mariah Carey's debut album was the best-selling album in the United States, solidifying her success.
On March 16, 1992, Mariah Carey performed and recorded an intimate seven-song show for MTV Unplugged at Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens, New York.
On June 5, 1993, Mariah Carey married Tommy Mottola.
On August 31, 1993, Mariah Carey released the album Music Box, which was marketed as adult contemporary and pop-friendly.
In 1993, Mariah Carey achieved international success with the release of her best-selling album, Music Box.
On November 1, 1994, Mariah Carey released Merry Christmas, which became the best-selling Christmas album.
In 1994, Mariah Carey had live performances from the St. John the Divine Church, which were included in the 25th-anniversary re-release of Merry Christmas in 2019.
In 1994, Mariah Carey released Merry Christmas, which became the best-selling holiday album. Also in 1994, Carey co-founded Camp Mariah with the Fresh Air Fund, contributing to charitable causes.
In 1995, Mariah Carey continued her international success with the release of the album Daydream.
In December 1996, Mariah Carey and Tommy Mottola separated.
In 1996, Sapphire's novel Push was published, which was later adapted into the movie Precious where Mariah Carey appeared.
In 1996, The Emancipation of Mimi was the first album by a solo female artist to become the year's best-selling album within the country since Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill.
In early 1996, Mariah Carey embarked on her first international concert series, the Daydream World Tour. Forbes named Carey the top-earning female musician of 1996, with an estimated $32 million earnings.
On May 30, 1997, Mariah Carey and Tommy Mottola publicly announced their separation.
On September 10, 1997, Mariah Carey released "Butterfly", an album that introduced a more subdued vocal style and explored mature lyrical themes, marking a shift towards hip hop and R&B influences.
In 1997, Mariah Carey adopted a new image with hip hop-inflected sounds, following the release of Butterfly.
In 1997, Mariah Carey was in a relationship with baseball player Derek Jeter.
In 1997, Mariah Carey wrote songs for other projects, such as Men in Black.
In 1997, The Emancipation of Mimi became Mariah Carey's first number-one album since Butterfly.
Mariah Carey's songwriting partnership with Walter Afanasieff ended with 1997's Butterfly album.
On March 4, 1998, Mariah Carey and Tommy Mottola divorced.
On April 14, 1998, Mariah Carey participated in the VH1 Divas benefit concert alongside Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, Shania Twain, Gloria Estefan, and Carole King.
In 1998, Mariah Carey collaborated with Mobb Deep on the single "The Roof (Back in Time)", showcasing her appreciation for rappers and hip hop music.
In 1998, Mariah Carey performed on VH1's Divas Live special, supporting the Save the Music Foundation.
In 1998, Mariah Carey was in a relationship with singer Luis Miguel.
On November 2, 1999, Mariah Carey's album "Rainbow" was released, achieving the highest first-week sales of her career at that time, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200.
In 1999, Mariah Carey was presented with a Congressional Award for contributing to expanding opportunities for all Americans through her personal contributions and setting exceptional examples for young people.
In 1999, the former home of Mariah Carey and Tommy Mottola, which they sold after their divorce, burned down.
In 2000, Mariah Carey wrote songs for other projects, such as How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Mariah Carey participated in the Divas 2000 special.
In April 2001, Mariah Carey signed an $80 million five-album recording contract with Virgin Records (EMI Records).
In July 2001, Mariah Carey suffered a physical and emotional breakdown, exhibiting erratic behavior and posting disturbing messages, leading to hospitalization on July 26 due to exhaustion.
In 2001, Mariah Carey ended her relationship with singer Luis Miguel.
In 2001, Mariah Carey experienced a career decline following the failure of her film, Glitter.
In 2001, Mariah Carey experienced a mental breakdown, which received widespread media coverage.
In 2001, Mariah Carey was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder but initially kept the diagnosis private.
In 2001, after the film project All That Glitters fell into developmental issues, Mariah Carey postponed the project and began writing material for a new album.
In December 2002, Mariah Carey released her ninth studio album, Charmbracelet.
In 2002, Ashanti had topped the chart while being a featured singer on the number two single, preceding Mariah Carey's achievement
In 2002, Mariah Carey was cast in the independent film WiseGirls alongside Mira Sorvino and Melora Walters.
During the week of September 25, 2005, Mariah Carey became the first woman to occupy the first two spots atop the Hot 100, with "We Belong Together" at number one and "Shake It Off" at number two.
In 2005, Mariah Carey performed for Live 8 in London and at the Hurricane Katrina relief telethon "Shelter from the Storm".
In 2005, Mariah Carey released "The Emancipation of Mimi", which topped the charts in the United States, marking her fifth number-one album and receiving warm critical acclaim.
In 2005, The Emancipation of Mimi was the best-selling album in the United States, with nearly five million units sold.
In November 2006, Mariah Carey was awarded the Wish Idol by the Make-A-Wish Foundation for her generosity and wish-granting achievements.
In 2006, Mariah Carey began participating in brand endorsements for Intel Centrino personal computers and launched Glamorized, a jewelry and accessories line for teenagers, in American Claire's and Icing stores.
In 2006, Mariah Carey stated that she believed she had been born again, emphasizing changes in her priorities and her relationship with God.
In 2006, Mariah Carey's The Emancipation of Mimi received eight Grammy Award nominations for the original release.
In 2007, "Touch My Body", the lead single from E=MC², reached the top position on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Carey's eighteenth number one single.
In 2007, Mariah Carey released her own fragrance, "M", after signing a licensing deal with Elizabeth Arden.
In 2007, The Emancipation of Mimi Ultra Platinum Edition received two Grammy Award nominations
In 2007, author Saul Austerlitz noted that Mariah Carey had been "marketed as a whitebread pop princess" in her earlier music videos, and her image transformed into an "R&B diva".
In April 2008, Mariah Carey began dating Nick Cannon while filming the music video for her song "Bye Bye".
On April 30, 2008, Mariah Carey married Nick Cannon in the Bahamas, after they had been dating while filming the music video for "Bye Bye".
In August 2008, Mariah Carey and other singers recorded the charity single, "Just Stand Up" produced by Babyface and L.A. Reid, to support Stand Up to Cancer.
In early December 2008, Mariah Carey's tour in support of E=MC² was cancelled, later revealed to be due to her pregnancy and subsequent miscarriage.
In 2008, Mariah Carey continued her collaboration with Elizabeth Arden, releasing the fragrance Luscious Pink.
In 2008, Mariah Carey performed in a New Year's Eve concert for the family of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, later expressing regret.
In 2008, Mariah Carey starred in the film Tennessee, expanding her career into acting.
In 2008, Mariah Carey was named Hunger Ambassador of the World Hunger Relief Movement.
On January 20, 2009, Mariah Carey performed "Hero" at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball after Barack Obama was sworn in as president.
On July 7, 2009, Mariah Carey, alongside Trey Lorenz, performed "I'll Be There" at the memorial service for Michael Jackson.
On September 25, 2009, Mariah Carey's twelfth studio album, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, was released, receiving mixed reviews and debuting at number three on the Billboard 200.
In 2009, Mariah Carey appeared as a social worker in Precious, the movie adaptation of the novel Push by Sapphire.
In 2009, Mariah Carey continued her fragrance line with Elizabeth Arden, releasing the fragrance Forever.
On December 31, 2009, Mariah Carey started her seventh concert tour, Angels Advocate Tour, performing in the United States and Canada.
In January 2010, Mariah Carey won the Breakthrough Actress Performance Award for her role in Precious at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
In February 2010, Mariah Carey's song "100%" was used as a theme song for the 2010 Winter Olympics, with all proceeds going to Team USA.
On March 30, 2010, the planned remix album of Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, titled Angels Advocate, was slated for release but was eventually cancelled.
On September 26, 2010, Mariah Carey's Angels Advocate Tour concluded after visiting the United States and Canada.
On November 2, 2010, Mariah Carey's second Christmas album, Merry Christmas II You, was released, debuting at number four on the Billboard 200.
On November 29, 2010, Mariah Carey debuted a collection on HSN, which included jewelry, shoes, and fragrances.
In 2010, Mariah Carey originally released the song "Oh Santa!", which was revisited in 2020 with Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson.
In a 2010 article for The New York Times, David Browne wrote that in the early 1990s, "melisma overtook pop in a way it hadn't before because of Mariah Carey."
In February 2011, Mariah Carey recorded a duet with Tony Bennett for his Duets II album and re-recorded "All I Want for Christmas Is You" with Justin Bieber.
In March 2011, Mariah Carey's representative announced that royalties for the song "Save the Day" would be donated to charities that create awareness for human rights.
On April 30, 2011, Mariah Carey gave birth to her fraternal twins, Moroccan and Monroe, via caesarean section.
In November 2011, Mariah Carey was announced as "brand ambassador" for Jenny Craig, Inc., participating in a new company initiative including public service announcements and community programs.
On March 1, 2012, Mariah Carey performed at New York City's Gotham Hall, marking her first performance since her pregnancy.
In February 2013, Mariah Carey recorded and released the song "Almost Home" for the soundtrack of the film Oz the Great and Powerful.
On May 6, 2013, Mariah Carey released the lead single "Beautiful", featuring Miguel, which peaked at number 15 on the Hot 100.
On May 15, 2013, Mariah Carey taped a performance of "Beautiful" along with a medley of her greatest hits for the American Idol season finale.
In 2013, Mariah Carey appeared in Lee Daniels' film The Butler and had a guest role on the animated series American Dad!.
In 2013, Mariah Carey faced criticism from human rights activists for performing in a concert for Angola's leadership.
In 2013, Mariah Carey starred in the film The Butler and also served as a judge on American Idol.
On May 27, 2014, Mariah Carey's album, Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse, was released after multiple delays.
In August 2014, Nick Cannon confirmed that he and Mariah Carey had separated.
In October 2014, Mariah Carey announced an annual residency show All I Want for Christmas Is You: A Night of Joy and Festivity.
On December 12, 2014, Nick Cannon filed for divorce from Mariah Carey.
On December 15, 2014, Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You: A Night of Joy and Festivity" residency began at the Beacon Theatre in New York City.
In a review of Mariah Carey's 2014 concert, Michael Lallo noted her characteristic stage presence, including hair stroking and expressive hand gestures.
On January 30, 2015, Mariah Carey reunited with L.A. Reid and signed with Epic Records and announced her new #1 to Infinity residency in Las Vegas.
In December 2015, Mariah Carey announced The Sweet Sweet Fantasy Tour, marking her first major tour of mainland Europe in 13 years.
In 2015, Mariah Carey began dating Australian billionaire James Packer.
In 2015, Mariah Carey starred in A Christmas Melody, adding to her filmography.
Mariah Carey was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2015, recognizing her contributions to the music industry.
On January 21, 2016, Mariah Carey announced her engagement to Australian billionaire James Packer.
On March 15, 2016, Mariah Carey announced that she was filming Mariah's World, a docu-series for the E! network.
In March 2016, Mariah Carey's The Sweet Sweet Fantasy Tour began, marking her first major tour of mainland Europe in 13 years.
In October 2016, Mariah Carey and James Packer called off their engagement, and she began dating American choreographer Bryan Tanaka.
On December 4, 2016, Mariah's World, a docu-series for the E! network, premiered.
On December 5, 2016, Mariah Carey participated in the VH1 Divas Holiday: Unsilent Night benefit concert.
In 2016, Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon's divorce was finalized.
Mariah Carey participated in the Divas 2016 holiday edition.
On December 31, 2016, Mariah Carey's performance on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve in Times Square was marred by technical difficulties.
On February 3, 2017, Mariah Carey released the single "I Don't" featuring YG.
In July 2017, Mariah Carey made a cameo in the comedy film Girls Trip and embarked on a tour with Lionel Richie, titled, All the Hits Tour.
By October 2017, Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" had become the 11th best-selling single in history, with over 16 million copies sold worldwide.
In October 2017, Mariah Carey released a new soundtrack single, "The Star", for the movie of the same name, and voiced a hen named Rebecca in the film.
On November 14, 2017, Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You, an animated Christmas film, was released direct-to-video.
On December 31, 2017, Mariah Carey returned to perform on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve after the technical difficulties that hindered her previous performance.
In April 2018, Mariah Carey opened up about taking therapy sessions and medication for her struggle with bipolar II disorder, after being diagnosed in 2001.
In July 2018, Mariah Carey embarked on a new Las Vegas residency, The Butterfly Returns, which received critical acclaim.
In September 2018, Mariah Carey announced plans to release her fifteenth studio album later in the year, alongside the release of a new song titled "GTFO".
On September 21, 2018, Mariah Carey headlined the 2018 iHeartRadio Music Festival, where she performed "GTFO".
On November 16, 2018, Mariah Carey's album, Caution, was released and received universal acclaim from critics.
By December 2018, Mariah Carey's album Caution had been featured on numerous year-end lists by music critics and publications.
In 2018, Mariah Carey appeared in an advertisement for Hostelworld with the tagline "Even Divas are Believers".
In February 2019, Mariah Carey commenced the Caution World Tour in support of her album.
On August 25, 2019, Mariah Carey signed a $12 million contract with the Walkers crisps brand as part of their Christmas campaign and starred in a commercial for the company.
On September 18, 2019, Mariah Carey released "In the Mix", the theme song for the ABC sitcom Mixed-ish.
On November 1, 2019, Mariah Carey re-released her holiday album Merry Christmas for its 25th anniversary.
On December 5, 2019, it was announced that a mini-documentary titled Mariah Carey Is Christmas!, charting the creation of "All I Want for Christmas Is You", would be broadcast on Amazon Music.
In 2019, Mariah Carey received a Billboard Icon Award, celebrating her significant impact and lasting legacy in music.
In 2019, Mariah Carey was honored by Variety's Power of Women for her work with The Fresh Air Fund's Camp Mariah. By 2019, the executive director of The Fresh Air Fund reported that kids who attended Camp Mariah had higher graduation rates.
In 2019, Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You: A Night of Joy and Festivity" residency at the Beacon Theatre in New York City came to an end.
Mariah Carey's Las Vegas residency, The Butterfly Returns, which started in July 2018, had dates extending into 2019.
In January 2020, it was announced that Mariah Carey would be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
On July 17, 2020, Mariah Carey celebrated the 30th anniversary of her debut album with the release of the live EP The Live Debut – 1990.
On October 2, 2020, Mariah Carey released a compilation album titled The Rarities, which includes rare and unreleased songs.
In December 2020, Mariah Carey launched a partnership with Virtual Dining Concepts and Robert Earl for a biscuit line titled Mariah's Cookies.
"Save the Day" written for her fourteenth studio album, was finally released in 2020.
In 2020, Billboard ranked Mariah Carey 73rd on its list of "The 100 Greatest Music Video Artists of All Time", highlighting her evolution in music videos over three decades.
In 2020, Mariah Carey released her memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey, offering insights into her life and career.
Mariah Carey's Las Vegas residency, The Butterfly Returns, which started in July 2018, had dates extending into 2020.
With the 2020 release of her memoir "The Meaning of Mariah Carey", Mariah Carey revealed that she wrote, produced, provided vocals, and did art direction for Chick's album "Someone's Ugly Daughter" during the recording of Daydream.
In July 2021, Mariah Carey was featured on the track "Somewhat Loved" from Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis' debut studio album Jam & Lewis: Volume One.
On November 5, 2021, Mariah Carey released "Fall in Love at Christmas", a single featuring Khalid and Kirk Franklin, and performed it on her Christmas special.
In 2021, Mariah Carey announced the launch of a new line of alcohol called Black Irish, and also partnered with McDonald's for a limited-time menu.
In 2021, Mariah Carey was honored at the African American Film Critics Association with a Special Achievement Innovator Award for her visual storytelling in her music videos and specials.
In March 2022, Mariah Carey was featured alongside DJ Khaled on the remix of Latto's single "Big Energy," which interpolates Carey's 1995 single "Fantasy".
On September 16, 2022, Mariah Carey released an expanded version of her album Butterfly for its 25th anniversary.
In December 2022, Mariah Carey performed two pairs of shows at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto and Madison Square Garden in New York City.
In 2022, Mariah Carey recorded nine video lessons for MasterClass titled "Mariah Carey Teaches the Voice as an Instrument", and re-recorded "The Roof (Back in Time)" with Brandy.
In February 2023, the 2009 track "It's a Wrap" experienced a revival on TikTok, prompting Mariah Carey to release an EP for the song, which included a new sped-up version.
On September 8, 2023, Mariah Carey released a deluxe version of her album Music Box in celebration of the album's thirtieth anniversary.
Mariah Carey's 16-date concert tour, Merry Christmas One and All!, concluded on December 17, 2023, in the United States, grossing approximately $30 million.
On December 26, 2023, Bryan Tanaka confirmed that he and Mariah Carey had parted ways after seven years of dating.
In 2023, Mariah Carey became one of the first recipients of the BRIT Billion Award, for surpassing one billion streams in the United Kingdom.
In 2023, Mariah Carey was ranked as the fifth greatest singer of all time by Rolling Stone, recognizing her significant influence and vocal talent.
On February 16, 2024, Mariah Carey was featured on the remix of Ariana Grande's single "Yes, And?", which was included in the "slightly deluxe" edition of Grande's seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine.
On November 6, 2024, Mariah Carey embarked on Mariah Carey's Christmas Time tour to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Merry Christmas.