Mariah Carey is a legendary singer, actress and the mother of adorable twins! While she has always seemed so strong and comfortable with herself, she has been harboring a big secret for nearly 17 years. She finally revealed her secret in a recent interview, and the impact is huge not just for Mariah, but for millions of people around the world.
Legendary Career
Mariah has been on the top of the Billboard charts for nearly three decades. Her debut album, Mariah Carey, had 4 number 1 singles on the Billboard Top 100. “Vision of Love” will be remembered forever. The song alone was nominated in 1991 for three Grammy Awards!
Mariahs First Album
Collaboration With Whitney
After 2 more highly successful albums, she worked with another legend, Whitney Houston. The ladies recorded the hit “When You Believe” for The Prince of Egypt soundtrack. It too won a Grammy for Best Original Song, and fans went crazy when the two performed this song together live.
Mariah Carey And Whitney Houston
Worked with Jay Z Over 15 Years Ago!
Besides Whitney, did you know Jay Z was on Mariah’s track “Heartbreaker?” He was just starting his career when Mariah asked him to be on the hit single. We can’t believe this was over 15 years ago. Naturally, the song was huge and hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Mariah And Jay Z
Legendary Career
Over the course of her near 3 decade career she has recorded 14 studio albums, selling over 200 million copies worldwide. This clearly makes her one of the top selling artists in the history of music.
14 Albums
Grammy Awards
Mariah has been winning Grammy’s since her first album debuted in 1990. To this date she has been nominated for a whopping 34 awards, and has won 5 of them.
Legendary Career
Actress AND Singer
Besides being beautiful and a very gifted vocalist, Mariah is also an actress. She received great reviews from fans and critics of her performance in WiseGirls, Precious and more recently the American historical drama The Butler.
WiseGirls
Going Viral
Mariah Carey has been “internet famous” a few times. She got a very positive response from fan’s of a recent tweet of herself. It was based on a Marilyn Monroe quote “If you don’t love me at my… you don’t deserve me at my.” The tweet features a less than glamorous photo of herself from Precious, and a very glamorous picture from the album cover of The Emancipation of Mimi. In less than 24 hours she received over 135,000 likes. We think it is a great message!
Mariahs Famous Tweet
Meme Seen ‘Round The World
A Mariah meme also was viral on the internet this last New Years Eve. Mariah had a hilarious diva moment on stage during a live performance when she was asking where her hot tea was. She stated, “Happy New Year! Just want to take a sip of tea if they’ll let me. They told me there would be tea. Oh, it’s a disaster. Okay, well, we’ll just have to rough it. I’m going to be like everybody else, with no hot tea.”
Tea Meme
Complicated Love Life
Mariah Carey is an extremely talented diva, and with such a status there is usually relationship drama. Mariah Carey has been married twice, and dated some of the most eligible bachelors in the world. Her first marriage was to record executive Tommy Motttola in the early 90s. They separated in 1997 and their divorce was finalized in early 2000. Mariah then dated famous Mexican singer Luis Miguel from 1998 to 2001.
Mariah And Tommy Mottola
Mariah and Nick Cannon
She met actor and comedian Nick Cannon while shooting a music video in Antigua. The two were married in 2008 and they have twins together. Their names are Moroccan Scott Cannon and Monroe Cannon. Monroe was named after Marilyn Monroe. Nick and Mariah were together until 2014 and their divorce was finalized in 2016.
Mariah And Nicks Twins
Mariah and Bryan Tanaka
After splitting from Nick Cannon, Carey then very publicly dated Australian billionaire James Packer and they were engaged for a few months. Most recently, Mariah has been dating her previous back-up dancer and now creative director, Bryan Tanaka. They were friends first and became a couple in December 2016.
Mariah Carey And Bryan Tanaka
Struggles Along The Way
Mariah has faced hardship over the years both personally and professionally. After separating from Tommy Mottola in 2001 the media reported she had an emotional and physical breakdown. She complained of being overworked and being treated like a commodity by her record label. In July of that year she was hospitalized due to extreme exhaustion. She received much negative media coverage at this time and had some controversial public appearances.
Mariahs Public Breakdown
Glitter
During this time in early 2001, Mariah just finished filming Glitter and recording the soundtrack for it. Virgin Records and 20th Century Fox decided to delay the release of the film and album due to Mariah’s personal difficulties. When the film was finally released it got very negative reviews and the soundtrack was Mariah’s lowest selling album ever. Mariah took a 5 month break after this to reflect and write new material for her next album “Charmbracelet” and since then her music career has held steady.
Glitter
Mariah Finally Opens Up
Just this week, Mariah Carey revealed a secret she has been keeping since early 2001. She said she was tired to living a life in secret and was hoping her openness would help others that might be experiencing the same.
Mariah Opens Up
Mariah Revealed She Has Bipolar II Disorder
Mariah opened up this week in an interview with People that she was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder in 2001 when she was hospitalized for a physical and mental breakdown. She stated she was living in “denial and isolation” all the years before speaking out to the public about it. Bipolar II disorder involves periods of hypo-mania and periods of depression. There is still some misunderstanding about the illness and some stigma in America and around the world in regards to mental illness. Hopefully with Mariah’s openness it will help break down the stigma associated with bipolar disorder and other illnesses. She stated in the interview, “I’m just in a really good place right now, where I’m comfortable discussing my struggles with bipolar II disorder. I’m hopeful we can get to a place where the stigma is lifted from people going through anything alone. It can be incredibly isolating.”
Mariah Announced She Has Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar Disorder Is Widespread
According to the World Health Organization, 50% of adults will experience some sort of mental health issue during the course of their lives. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates about 5.7 million Americans or 2.6% of the total population has bipolar disorder. Hopefully as stigma is reduced, more people will be open about their illness and seek proper treatment.
Bipolar Disorder Is Widespread
Many High Profile Celebrities Are Opening Up
Besides Mariah, recently more and more high profile people are opening up with their mental health struggles. Recently celebs such as Demi Lovato, Sinead O’Connor, Russel Brand, and Catherine Zeta Jones have came forward about their struggles.
Demi Lovato
Treatment and Support of Her Ex
Since 2001 Mariah has been in therapy and taking medication to battle the disorder. Since the announcement she has received a lot of support from fans and people close to her. Her ex-husband, Nick Cannon stated he is proud of his wife for speaking publicly about her diagnosis.
Nick Cannon
New Memoir
Since the announcement and due to the support of her fans and some close friends, Mariah has decided to write a memoir about her struggle with bipolar II disorder.
Mariah Is Writing A Memoir
#1’s Tour Set To Launch
Besides the memoir, there is more exciting news for Mariah. She is launching “The #1’s tour” where she will perform all her big hits. The tour will begin in Australia in October 7th. The tour is celebrating her success in the industry for 28 years.
1s Tour
We’re Proud of You, Mariah!
Hopefully there will only be more good things coming Mariah’s way. She stated the time was right to make her announcement because she was in a good place in her life and wanted to be a role model for her fans. Hopefully with the help of Mariah and other celebs, some of the stigma associated with mental illness will breakdown and more people will seek proper treatment. Way to go, Mariah!
Mariah As A Role Model
Most #1 Debuts In Billboard Hot 100 History
Behind the Beatles who have raked up 20 hits, Mariah Carey comes in 2nd place with 18. Amazingly, she leads Rihanna and Michael Jackson who are tied for 3rd place, two incredibly popular and talented musicians. Way to go Mariah!
Most #1 Debuts In Billboard Hot 100 History
She Was Named After A Hit Song From A Broadway Musical
The famous pop star was named after a hit song from the musical turned movie Paint Your Wagon. The show ran on Broadway in 1951 and was later turned into a hit movie in 1969. She was named Mariah after the song’s title, “They Call The Wind Maria”. Her parents decided to add the “h” for a unique spin on the name. You have to inherit some sort of musicality when named after a song from a Broadway show! We know Mariah Carey sure did.
She Was Named After A Hit Song From A Broadway Musical
Family Background
Mariah’s parents faced a lot of racism when marrying in the year 1960. Her mother of Irish decent, and her father of African American and Afro-Venezuelan decent, were not accepted as a couple during America at the time.
Family Background
Music Is In Her Blood
It comes as no surprise Mariah became a famous singer, her mother, Patricia Hickey was a mezzo-soprano New York City opera singer and a freelance vocal coach. At the ripe age of two years old, she imitated her mother’s singing, shocking the talented Patricia. Realizing their daughter’s natural talent, her parents put her in singing lessons two years later, at just 4 years old, and she hasn’t stopped since.
Music Is In Her Blood
Her High School Nickname
Mariah was quite the character in her early years. She cut class so often that her peers started referring to her as Mirage. Her teachers must look back in awe that the rule-breaking teen they once knew is now a world famous popstar.
Her High School Nickname
Hard Worker
Carey has been a hard worker throughout her entire life. She supported herself at a young age, working a few jobs at a time to make ends meet. From a hostess and waitress, to a coat-checker and hair sweeper in a salon, she sure did do it all. Fame doesn’t come easy, and this star showed us just that.
Hard Worker
Born And Raised New Yorker
Mariah Carey was born in Huntington, New York, just East of Manhattan situated on the Long Island Sound. The star never forgets her roots, going back to the Big Apple often for appearances and shows. On New Year’s Eve 2017, she sang one of her hit tracks in the ever-so-bustling Times Square.
Born And Raised New Yorker
High School For Beauty School
At 17 years old, Mariah decided school wasn’t for her. In 11th grade she left high school and started at a local school for aspiring beauticians. Hair and makeup replaced math and science, curlers and mascara replaced pens and pencils. The pop star learned some valuable tricks of the trade to ensure she always look her best!
High School For Beauty School
One Original Woman
Unlike many stars who reproduce other artist’s work, Carey solely sings music she has personally written. This woman can not be called unoriginal! Being a good singer is hard in itself, throw in song-writer…what an accomplishment.
One Original Woman
No Meat Please!
Growing up, Mariah was a vegetarian, skipping meat for fresh vegetables. But then-boyfriend Tommy Mottola, somehow convinced the veggie lover to incorporate meat into her diet. She slowly tried new foods and hasn’t looked back. Hooray for hamburgers!
No Meat Please
Beauty Queen
Carey was crowned with the bragging rights of making the “100 Sexiest Women in the World” list by FHM. Not once but two years in a row, in both 2000 and 2001. The website defines sexiness as “having confidence, brains, talent and a way to light up an entire room while walking into it.”
Beauty Queen
The $600,000 Piano
Would you spend $600,000 on a piano? What if it was Marilyn Monroe’s white baby grand piano no less? In 1999 Carey splurged, dishing out over half a million for this one-of-a-kind gem.
The 600000 Piano
She Has Her Own Perfume Line
It seems like a trend with celebs these days to come out with a perfume after striking fame. In 2009, Mariah Carey followed in the footsteps of her fellow stars, launching “Luscious Pink”, a pink and fruity perfume. The star has added more fragrances to her collection since. Every fan girl’s dream come true: to not only look like her role model but to smell like her too!
She Has Her Own Perfume Line
Don’t Smoke And Sing
The singer used to smoke but quit the nasty habit when she realized it was affecting her voice. Her voice supposedly gained three octaves more range when she ditched the packs. Let’s hope fans and others in the industry took her advice!
Dont Smoke And Sing
Her Legs Are Insured For $1 Billion USD
Yep, you read that correctly. When we think of insurance, our home, car and our lives usually come to mind. Body parts? I don’t think so. But, for celebrities this is a reality, where ensuring their famous ass(et) is no biggie. Carey insured her legs for a whopping billion after Gillette crowned her with “Celebrity Legs of a Goddess”.
Her Legs Are Insured For 1 Billion USD
Breaking Glass
Carey holds the Guinness Book World Record for highest note ever sung by a human…Pretty impressive! She reached new heights during her 2003 performance of the Star Spangled Banner.
Breaking Glass
The Queen Of Christmas
Carey is know all over the globe as the “Queen of Christmas”. Her 1994 Christmas pop tune “All I Want For Christmas Is You” is the most famous holiday song of all time.
The Queen Of Christmas
She Has A Famous Godmother
Mariah Carey has a line of famous family lineage. Her godmother is the one and only Patti LaBelle! This R&B legend is known for her 1983 single “If You Only Knew” and her net worth is $50 million as of 2017!
She Has A Famous Godmother
She Calls Her Fans Lambs
One fan is called a lamb while many fans are called a “lambily”. She coined the term because her fans act like lambs- following the leader. A bit odd, but hey! her “lambily” is made up of people from all over the world!
She Calls Her Fans Lambs
“Best Selling Female Artist of the Millennium”
Mariah won the impressive title “Best Selling Female Artist of the Millennium”, securing the accolade of being one of the most successful musicians of all time.
She Calls Her Fans Lambs