Mariah Carey's Life in Pictures

Mar. 15, 2025

Mariah Carey.Photo:Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Happy Birthday,Mariah Carey!The five-time Grammy winner turns 55 on March 27, 2024, and has much to celebrate, between an incredible career, two beautiful children and all she’s accomplished so far.To celebrate the elusive chanteuse’s latest milestone, take a look through her life in photos.

Happy Birthday,Mariah Carey!

The five-time Grammy winner turns 55 on March 27, 2024, and has much to celebrate, between an incredible career, two beautiful children and all she’s accomplished so far.

To celebrate the elusive chanteuse’s latest milestone, take a look through her life in photos.

01of 18Mariah Carey’s Early YearsA young Mariah Carey.Courtesy Mariah CareyMariah Carey was born in Huntington, New York, to parents Alfred Roy and Patricia Carey. The couple divorced when Mariah was 3 years old.

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Mariah Carey’s Early Years

A young Mariah Carey.Courtesy Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey was born in Huntington, New York, to parents Alfred Roy and Patricia Carey. The couple divorced when Mariah was 3 years old.

02of 18Mariah Carey’s Early SuccessA young Mariah Carey.Robin Platzer/IMAGES/GettyThe singer released her debut album,Mariah Carey, in 1990. It went on to become the best-selling album in the U.S. and earned her the best female pop vocal performance and new artist gramophones at the 1991Grammy Awards.

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Mariah Carey’s Early Success

A young Mariah Carey.Robin Platzer/IMAGES/Getty

The singer released her debut album,Mariah Carey, in 1990. It went on to become the best-selling album in the U.S. and earned her the best female pop vocal performance and new artist gramophones at the 1991Grammy Awards.

03of 18Mariah Carey and Tommy MottolaA young Mariah Carey and Tommy Mottola.Mitchell Gerber/Corbis/VCG/GettyMariahwedSony Music head Tommy Mottola on June 5, 1993, when she was 23 and he was 43. However, the pairdivorcedafter four years of marriage and she has publicly stated many times that their relationship was turbulent due to his allegedly controlling nature.

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Mariah Carey and Tommy Mottola

A young Mariah Carey and Tommy Mottola.Mitchell Gerber/Corbis/VCG/Getty

MariahwedSony Music head Tommy Mottola on June 5, 1993, when she was 23 and he was 43. However, the pairdivorcedafter four years of marriage and she has publicly stated many times that their relationship was turbulent due to his allegedly controlling nature.

04of 18’All I Want for Christmas’A young Mariah Carey.Mariah became the undisputed queen of Christmas in 1994 when she released her holiday album,Merry Christmas, which has sold more than 15 million copies worldwide and is the best-selling Christmas album of all time thanks to its iconic single, “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

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‘All I Want for Christmas’

A young Mariah Carey.

Mariah became the undisputed queen of Christmas in 1994 when she released her holiday album,Merry Christmas, which has sold more than 15 million copies worldwide and is the best-selling Christmas album of all time thanks to its iconic single, “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

05of 18Mariah Carey in ‘Glitter’ and MoreMariah Carey in Glitter.After a role in 1999’sThe Bachelor, Mariah landed arguably her biggest movie credit to date in 2001’sGlitterwhich was considered a major flop, grossing just over $2 million at the box office. However, she’s gone on to star inPrecious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ By Sapphire(2009) andThe Butler(2013).

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Mariah Carey in ‘Glitter’ and More

Mariah Carey in Glitter.

After a role in 1999’sThe Bachelor, Mariah landed arguably her biggest movie credit to date in 2001’sGlitterwhich was considered a major flop, grossing just over $2 million at the box office. However, she’s gone on to star inPrecious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ By Sapphire(2009) andThe Butler(2013).

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Mariah Carey’s Hardships

Mariah was promotingGlitteronTotal Request Livein 2001 when shesuffered a breakdownand was hospitalized. Her publicist at the time described the incident as “an emotional and physical breakdown.”

07of 18Mariah Carey as The Elusive ChanteuseMaria Carey’s ‘The Emancipation of Mimi’.The Emancipation of Mimimarked a definitive shift for Mariah as her decade-long pop dominance had waned — but not for long. The album’s second single, “We Belong Together,” is one of her most popular and successful songs to date.

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Mariah Carey as The Elusive Chanteuse

Maria Carey’s ‘The Emancipation of Mimi’.

The Emancipation of Mimimarked a definitive shift for Mariah as her decade-long pop dominance had waned — but not for long. The album’s second single, “We Belong Together,” is one of her most popular and successful songs to date.

08of 18Mariah Carey and Nick CannonMariah Carey and Nick Cannon.Pascal Le Segretain/GettyAfter meeting in 2005, Mariah andNick Cannonstarted dating in March 2008 but shocked everyone weeks later when theywedin a sunset, ocean-side ceremony April 30 at her Bahamian estate. For their fifth anniversary in May 2013, they renewed their vows at Disneyland.

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Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon.Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

After meeting in 2005, Mariah andNick Cannonstarted dating in March 2008 but shocked everyone weeks later when theywedin a sunset, ocean-side ceremony April 30 at her Bahamian estate. For their fifth anniversary in May 2013, they renewed their vows at Disneyland.

09of 18Mariah Carey and ‘Dem Babies’Mariah Carey and her twins.Mariah Carey/InstagramOn their third wedding anniversary, Mariah and Nickwelcomed twins, daughter Monroe and son Moroccan, after she underwent fertility treatments to try to get pregnant after experiencing a miscarriage.

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Mariah Carey and ‘Dem Babies’

Mariah Carey and her twins.Mariah Carey/Instagram

On their third wedding anniversary, Mariah and Nickwelcomed twins, daughter Monroe and son Moroccan, after she underwent fertility treatments to try to get pregnant after experiencing a miscarriage.

10of 18Mariah Carey on ‘American Idol’Mariah Carey on ‘American Idol’.FOX via GettyMariah was added to the Fox series as the replacement forJennifer Lopezon season 12 in 2012, joining Randy Jackson,Nicki MinajandKeith Urbanon the judges’ panel. Her season-long gig was much-talked-about due to herfeud with Minaj— complete with f-bombs and a reported gun threat.

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Mariah Carey on ‘American Idol’

Mariah Carey on ‘American Idol’.FOX via Getty

Mariah was added to the Fox series as the replacement forJennifer Lopezon season 12 in 2012, joining Randy Jackson,Nicki MinajandKeith Urbanon the judges’ panel. Her season-long gig was much-talked-about due to herfeud with Minaj— complete with f-bombs and a reported gun threat.

11of 18Mariah Carey Heads to VegasMariah Carey in Las Vegas.Mariah joined the ranks ofCéline Dion,CherandBritney Spearsin January 2015 when she announced herLas Vegas residency,Mariah #1 to Infinity, The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The 50-show series kicked off on May 6, 2015, and concluded on July 18, 2017.

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Mariah Carey Heads to Vegas

Mariah Carey in Las Vegas.

Mariah joined the ranks ofCéline Dion,CherandBritney Spearsin January 2015 when she announced herLas Vegas residency,Mariah #1 to Infinity, The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The 50-show series kicked off on May 6, 2015, and concluded on July 18, 2017.

12of 18Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon DivorceMariah Carey and Nick Cannon.Gregg DeGuire/WireImageNick filed for divorce from Mariah on Dec 12, 2014, in New York after six years of marriage. Their divorce wasfinalizedin November 2016 following acontentious separation.

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Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon Divorce

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon.Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

Nick filed for divorce from Mariah on Dec 12, 2014, in New York after six years of marriage. Their divorce wasfinalizedin November 2016 following acontentious separation.

13of 18Mariah Carey and James PackerMariah Carey and James Packer.Justin Chin/Bloomberg via GettyMariah madeher relationshipwith billionaire James Packer public for the first time in June 2015, nearly a year after producer Brett Ratner introduced the pair. Then on Jan. 21, 2016, Packerproposedin her hometown witha massive 35-carat ringworth $10 million. Theycalled off their engagementin October 2016.

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Mariah Carey and James Packer

Mariah Carey and James Packer.Justin Chin/Bloomberg via Getty

Mariah madeher relationshipwith billionaire James Packer public for the first time in June 2015, nearly a year after producer Brett Ratner introduced the pair. Then on Jan. 21, 2016, Packerproposedin her hometown witha massive 35-carat ringworth $10 million. Theycalled off their engagementin October 2016.

14of 18Mariah Carey and Bryan TanakaMariah Carey and Bryan Tanaka.FilmMagicAfter calling it quitswith fiancé Packer, Mariah began dating choreographer Bryan Tanaka, who is 10 years her junior. At the time, it was believed thatPacker was concernedabout her closeness to Tanaka prior to the end of their engagement. Mariah confirmed they wereofficial in February 2017. They briefly split that April but were back together a month later, thoughcalled it quits for good in late 2023.

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Mariah Carey and Bryan Tanaka

Mariah Carey and Bryan Tanaka.FilmMagic

After calling it quitswith fiancé Packer, Mariah began dating choreographer Bryan Tanaka, who is 10 years her junior. At the time, it was believed thatPacker was concernedabout her closeness to Tanaka prior to the end of their engagement. Mariah confirmed they wereofficial in February 2017. They briefly split that April but were back together a month later, thoughcalled it quits for good in late 2023.

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Mariah Carey on New Year’s Eve

Mariah Carey on New Year’s Eve.Noam Galai/FilmMagic

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Mariah Carey Becomes an Icon

Mariah Carey at the Billboard Music Awards.Kevin Winter/Getty

On May 1, 2019,Careywas honored withthe prestigious icon awardat the 2019 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

“Thank you so much for this gorgeous award … I’m so nervous. Thank you,Billboard, for letting me grow up on the charts with you and for this incredible honor,” Carey said. “Icon? I really don’t think of myself in that way. I started making music out of a necessity to survive and to express myself and I just wanted to create something so I could feel worthy of existing, and if I’ve learned anything — anything at all in this life — it’s that truly all things are possible with God.”

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‘Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special’

Mariah Carey and Ariana Grande.

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Mariah Carey’s Children’s Book

Mariah Carey’s ‘The Christmas Princess’.Henry Holt Books for Young Readers

source: people.com