Mariah Says

What Celebrities Say About Mariah

Below is a compilation of opinions and comments from famous celebrities about Mariah - the person, the music, the influence. If you would like to contribute to the list, please email us at info@mariahdaily.com.

MARIAH, THE PERSONDerek Jeter: "I was intrigued with Mariah because we had a lot of similarities. Like me, she has a mixed heritage. She has White Irish mother and an African-American Venezuelan Father. Like me, she had a dream in life that she zealously pursued. She knew she wanted to be a singer, and made that her mission. Like me, she still works extremely hard at her profession. she's a beautiful woman, on the inside and outside, and I had a deep respect for her and the way she handled herself. she started out with nothing but a dream that she would be a BIG STAR, and to this day, she still works hard at fulfilling that dream. She's constantly writing, she's constantly in the studio, she's constantly trying to get better. She's someone a lot of people can learn from. I know I did. Whether you like her music or you think it's terrible, you could learn a lot of the way she pursued her goal." (Excerpts from "The Life You Imagine: Life Lessons For Achieving Your Dreams" Book)

Anastacia: "Just after her individual performance, I met Mariah. She actually came up to me, it was so weird. I had no idea that she even knew I existed. She came and told me that she loves my voice and she loved my "Not That Kind" album. I freaked out, haha! I couldn't believe how nice she was, I never expected it from all the rumours I hear. But she's extremely kind and down-to-earth and you know what? We chatted for a while and she told me to sing at the front with her at the end when we performed "What More Can I Give." It was an honour." (Australia's Dope Music Magazine, 2002)

Janet Jackson: "I have met [Carey] before and she's really cool and so funny. Everyone has been given the wrong impression of her, and maybe it is her doing. But you have to remember that celebrities are always in the spotlight and are sometimes forced to conduct them selves in a different way than they normally do. That?s how it is in the business. I have met artists who are real divas, but Mariah Carey is not one of them. She is a very sweet person, and what nobody sees off camera is the real person she is on the inside." (Music Beat)

Damizza: "They say all these negative things about her like she dates rappers or about the way she dresses. If anybody were to meet her, they'd know she's Mary Poppins. She doesn't smoke, she hardly drinks, she doesn't do drugs. She's got a very sensitive voice so that if she walks into a room with smoke she can't sing for three days, or she can't talk. It's funny to be her friend and read all these things about her. Tabloids are always saying she's off on holiday but she's the hardest working person I've ever met in my life. She works 23 hours a day, literally, she never sleeps and she takes care of everybody. When I hear someone say something about her I usually get offended because she gave me my shot, she gave Shade his shot, she gave us all our shots. She gave ODB his first light of day past Wu Tang Clan, and she invented the whole pop-rap collaboration. Nobody would have done a song with ODB at that level - this is a lady who'd sold a 100 million records at that point. She did not have to do that record, she wasn't trying to get street credibility. When we did 'Cry Baby' for her album a long time ago, I called Snoop and said what we wanted to do and he said "'Vision of Love' is my favourite record of all time." Everybody has a soft spot for Mariah. She's the greatest in the world."

Diane Warren: "She works really hard. No matter what she's done, there's a hunger there. She doesn't have to prove herself, but she feels like she does."

Jamie Theakson: "Mariah Carey is the perfect modern celebrity - larger than life, glamorous and totally over the top. I think some women disagree with her diva-like behaviour, but without her, the world of entertainment would be a much duller place.

I first met her in 1997 when she was promoting her album Butterfly and we hit it off immediately. With everything that had been written about her I had no idea what to expect, but she was smart, warm and very funny. She's a lot of fun to be around and unlike a lot of celebrities, can really laugh at herself. When she performed on Top Of The Pops we started a rumour she'd demanded puppies in her dressing room and it became instant Mariah folklore. But she loved it because it was all harmless fun, and that's what she's all about." (Glamour UK)

Shania Twain: Mariah is very grounded, a smart and level-headed person. I don't understand why people criticize her intelligence when she can do something as miraculous as recover from a physical and exhaustion breakdown, a record label buy-out, a film flop, and a soundtrack whose sales has proven to have received little to no recognition and absolutely no promotion. She can't be that simple if she can make a come back the way she did. She hasn't been given enough credit in my opinion. She has to be some sort of a genius actually just to have focused on becoming a stronger person and not letting people like the media destroy her completely. There are some people out there that can't handle the pressure of being a celebrity and the criticism and knowing that besides success there is always failure that you have to lean to recover from, and Mariah has proven to be the type of person who doesn't let anyone or anything break her down. She knows how to keep her life on track and if that isn't intelligence then I don't know what is."

Whitney Houston: "We've never met or talked before. It was our first time working together. In the studio, we were laughing a lot and talking in between a song, we had a great time together. She's a vivid minded girl, she's a smart lady. I really like Mariah."

Jimmy "Jam" Harris: "From a personal stand point, Mariah's kindness stood out the most. She's a very caring person. We know from listening to her records how talented she is, but we didn't really know how talented she really is until we work with her in the studio. After working with Mariah, I can say, she's part of our family now. She's workaholic and definitely the mother of her career."

Max Beesley, co-star in "Glitter": "She was lovely. I actually kidnapped her one night! I wanted to take her out for a meal to thank her for taking such good care of us all for four months. So I took her out into New York, and told her that the night was on me, and we just going to relax. But she said, 'Well I'll get the wine then.' So I just picked out any bottle, and she ordered three of it. I was downing them like a proper Manc - like it was a pint of beer - when the bill arrived and she started laughing. 900 dollars each! I was really embarrassed!" (BBC1 Interview)

Missy Elliott: "MC is a funny girl and always makes me laugh no matter what. I love her!"

Shade Shiest: "I don't think it's because she's Mariah Carey, I don't think she's being singled out. It's because anyone successful is always going to be the target of negativity. She's a wonderful person, she's like a big sister to both of us and I have never seen her act any different from her normal self which is just like any other person. She's talented and she's just a regular person."

Sharlee Jeter: "She's a very nice person and I love her to death. But what happened to them [Mariah & Derek] is between them."

MARIAH'S MUSIC Kelly Clarkson: "Mariah is an excellent writer and singer. I believe she doesn't receive the credit she deserves." (The Straits Times)

Mary J. Blige: I love Mariah Carey. Mariah Carey's music saved little ghetto children's lives. Songs like "Visions of Love" gave us hope and we would sing those songs and try to hit every note like Mariah -- which we can't. I don't think she knows what a big part she plays in Mary J. Blige's life. And then to meet her... she's such a beautiful person that you can't do anything but defend her when [the media] starts acting stupid on her. She doesn't deserve that. (Barnes and Noble interview)

Mary J. also said in her acceptance speech at the 2005 Vibe Awards where Mariah was in the audience, "Mariah I love you, and I'm so happy for you. (Talking about Mariah's success with "The Emancipation of Mimi")

Busta Rhymes: "One of the best singers in the game, hands down..." (Blender)

Aretha Franklin: "[Erykah] Badu is a very good vocalist. I like her wit. She's kind of a cross between Diana Ross and Billie Holiday. Mariah Carey has done some things I like. Her vocals and production have a very tight quality." (Time)

Walter Afanasieff: "She actually knows every song ever written. She's a walking encyclopedia of songs, from every Stevie Wonder song all the way to every Police record ever made. She carries around this 'hard disk' full of songs. And there's nothing she can't sing." (Fred Bronson's The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits)

Whitney Houston: When asked if she remembered first hearing Mariah's music, Whitney replied by singing a line from "Vision of Love" and said, "Yep, I remember it. It was like, kinda, my tone, not quite me. Who is she?" (MTV interview with John Norris)

David Foster: "Working with Mariah was an extraordinary opportunity for me. It goes without saying that she's one of the world's greatest singers, but it was her musicianship that stunned me. She thinks like a record producer and lays her vocals down like a virtouso guitarist. Singer, Songwriter, Producer Mariah is a triple treat. Working with her was a wonderful experience from beginning to end."

Ben Folds: "She's got the most amazing voice. Although the production on her new album, "The Emancipation of Mimi," may turn some off, I find the sheer talent involved reason enough to listen. I love classic soul ballads like "Mine Again" and "Fly Like a Bird." I also like that she's using her voice on this album more like a male singer might, like Prince. She could show off and belt, but she's evolving and doesn't seem to need to prove herself every bar, so you get the interpretation of an amazing singer." (The New York Times)

Patti LaBelle: Has often complimented Mariah ("She has a great voice. I don't know, I love her talent!") and has even called her, her god-daughter. She introduced her at the 1999 Billboard Awards and has duetted with Mariah. She also gave a standing ovation to her when Mariah performed a medley of "If Only You Knew/Somewhere Over The Rainbow" "Mariah has an amazing gift from God that has no color, no boundaries and no limitations. You hear the passion and honesty within her music."

Jessica Simpson: "Oh, my Gosh! Can you imagine they're comparing me to her...I mean she's the biggest selling artist of the decade, and I admire her too."

"I'm a huge fan of Mariah Carey. I admired her music for so long. It's hard to follow on her footstep. She's so successful. Mariah's Mariah. To be compared to her is a huge compliment."

Jessica said that "My All" was her favorite song of 1998, and also said that she used to warm up by singing "Hero."

Nelly: "Mariah Carey, she's possibly the best singer I've heard. And you watch someone such as Mariah, who went from the highest of the high to the lowest of the low, and come back like she never missed a beat, and stand up and smack everybody in the face like, 'I'm still here; matter of fact I'm better” that gives you inspiration. That keeps me going."

P!nk: "I love her style, I love especially her covers and samples. I think 'Glitter' is great. It´s a shame that the press never understood how honest this movie is."

Toni Braxton: "I really admire Mariah Carey. I think she's a underrated, because she's a great producer, a wonderful writer, and no one gives her props for that. They always say 'Oh look, did you see what she had on?' And this and that. I'm like she's 30 years old, she's not 70 with breast hanging like chickens. She's young, she's beautiful, she has a great body. I just think she's wonderful, and I think people beat her up a lil' too much.

Especially Mariah's 'One Sweet Day' - the one she did with Boyz II Men. Oh my God, that really helped me through a rough time."

Probably Ella Fitzgerald, that's past, but if you're talking currently, I really like Mariah Carey. She's wonderful, she's a writer, and a producer, and I don't think people give her credit as she should.

"I like the things that Irv Gotti is doing with hip-hop tracks and R&B with Ashanti. To be honest, Mariah Carey really pioneered that. All people wanted to talk about was her shorty-short shorts, but forget the chances she took. "Mariah with ODB...what was she thinking?" When I heard it, I said, "I get it, Mariah. Hands up, girl!" (Network Magazine, Nov. 2002)

Joe Elliott, lead singer - Def Leppard: "Mariah Carey has also covered it...and about bloody time! It took 21 years for someone to do a proper cover of one of our songs. Apparently she was listening to Vault when she decided to get back in the studio and add it to her own already finished album. Because 'Bringin' On The Heartbreak' is the final track it suggests she listened right through to the end. That makes it hard not to say, 'God bless ya, girl.'" (In the liner notes of "Rock of Ages" album)

"I think she's done a very good job [with "Bringin' On The Heartbreak"]. It's faithful to the arrangement, but not done like a rock song. Some astonishing vocal gymnastics toward the end that make Minnie Riperton sound like Tom Waits." (Las Vegas Sun)

Phil Collen, guitarist - Def Leppard: Praised Mariah's cover of "Bringin' On The Heartbreak" as a "genuine version of our song" and defended it from Def Leppard's more critical fans: "The fans really get it wrong sometimes. She's on our side and it's an honour she's done it. Really, that's the only way we're getting played. One of the best singers in the game, hands down..." (Rolling Stone)

"She's an icon. She's one of the most influential singers of the last decade. I mean, someone like Christina Aguilera is trying to imitate what Mariah did." (Calgary Herald)

John Mayer: "There's something about Mariah Carey. She's super hot and people don't realize how much influence she's had." (Blender)

Cameron Diaz: Diaz has reportedly said that her idea of torture is to be locked in a room and made to listen to Mariah Carey records.

Rhett Lawrence, Producer: "I literally got goosebumps on my arms when I heard her sing. I couldn't believe the power and maturity of her voice. It was obvious that she was great - she was amazing."

Shawn Stockman, Boyz II Men: "Of course. Mariah is talented, and you can't denounce her talent. Yeah, she's gone through a couple of personal things, but that didn't change the quality and the texture of her voice. It was only a matter of time before she would rise again and be on top."

Thalia: "She has a voice that started a new era in music in the 90s. I used to listen to her songs. She's accomplished so much in her career with her numerous number one songs."

Mark Feehilly, Westlife:"You know the way you see people's names on the credits, and it's like, I wonder if she actually really did that or are they just getting their name on there [because they're] such a big artist?" vocalist Mark Feehilly asks. "I always wondered that about Mariah Carey, and I was so happy to find out that she actually sat there at the desk, pushing up and down the buttons. She actually does produce her own songs and she writes her own songs, too. So, as a big fan, it made me respect her even more." (Rolling Stone, July 2000)

MARIAH'S MUSICAL INFLUENCE Nelly Furtado: "All that rap and R&B I listened to as a kid made an impression on me; I used to write R&B songs in my bedroom that sounded like Mariah Carey songs." (Billboard)

"The first singer I really got into was Mariah Carey when I was about 12. She kind of taught me how to sing 'cause, you know, couldn't really afford singing lessons. So, I would just listen to Mariah Carey's CD over and over again, and learn all her lyrics."

Kelly Clarkson: Often cites Mariah as a source of inspiration and frequently covers her songs live such as "Love Takes Time" when she was in American Idol, she couldn't sing Mariah songs but got around it by singing the same covers as her such as "Without You," "Open Arms" and "Don't Play That Song."

"I grew up listening to her and I love her and I love her new CD ["The Emancipation of Mimi"]."

In reply to the question, "Everyone has posters on their bedroom walls growing up, who was on your bedroom wall?" Kelly said, "Oh, I had Mariah Carey, Reba McEntire, Aerosmith, Guns N' Roses, had a bunch. I had a lot of Mariah Carey though." (Total Request Live interview)

At Zootopia 2003 Concert where they were both performing, Randy Jackson shoved her into a room with Mariah against her will (Kelly was too nervous). And Kelly told Mariah (accidentally) "Oh my God, I think I'm going to throw up!" She said Mariah laughed at her and was nice about it. Evidently, Kelly really vividly remembers that meeting, because she tells that story every time Mariah is brought up. (Interview with Ryan Seacrest, KISS 102.7)

Beyonce Knowles: "'Vision of Love,' when I first heard that song, I knew it, my mind was made up - I had to be a singer."

Kelly Rowland: "Mariah Carey is another hero of mine. I remember meeting her and how nice she was, and how I recently saw her, and she was telling me about stole and how she loved the video. And I literally, my mouth was open! I'm 22 years old and I mean at some point you just can't help but get a little star struck, and Mariah is just so incredible! I remember listening to "Dreamlover" when it first came out, and me trying to cut my shorts like hers, and have little plat shirts and show some belly like her! And oh my gosh, I love her! Love her!! She is a very incredible human being!! Listening to her voice just made me want to try even more with my vocals, cos she can do anything with her voice. Her voice is just like the ultimate instrument! She can hit high notes and her bottom voice is just so big and it's beautiful! There's no singer on this earth that can do what Mariah does!!!"

Nivea: "Mariah Carey. She has been my main inspiration." (Teen Scene Magazine)

"I was watching 'The Arsenio Hall Show,' and Mariah was performing 'Vision of Love,'" the singer recalls. "The way she projected her voice, she just had so much power. I knew then that I wanted to make people feel the way she made me feel. I bought all her albums and learned all the songs. That's all I would do all day long sing Mariah Carey songs..." (Yahoo! Music Interview)

Melody Thorton, Pussycat Dolls: "My first album was Mariah Carey's "MTV Unplugged" and I still listen to it on a regular, to this day. (And you played it the other day. Over and over.) All the time. I met Mariah and she was great and I really, really, like it's amazing when you meet someone with that much like (charisma), yeah. She's done this before. She's like blah-blah-blah talking to me and then I was like just couldn't talk and when she left us I was like crying for an hour. It was crazy. It was great! She said, 'Don't mess up my body make-up.' That's what she said!" (AOL Music Sessions)

"Some girls have said, 'It's my dream to be in a pop group,' and I'm like, 'OK, because I want to be Mariah Carey.'" (Blender)

Lucie Silvas: "I was obsessed. I remember the moment I first heard Vision of Love, then I saw this white girl with a black voice on television, and everything about her bowled me over. You could relate to her and yet she was a magical icon, and throughout my school days all I dreamed of was being like Mariah Carey. She sang with a gospel choir around her, which was always my dream. I just wanted to be her." (Guardian Unlimited)

Britney Spears: "Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston were my biggest influences. Madonna and Janet were too. I love their style (Mariah & Whitney) and the way their voices electrify you."

"When I was little Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and I love listening to Michael Jackson...Yeah, I've always loved Mariah Carey, I guess because she writes her music, most of her music, and because she comes up with the BEST melodies. Her range is just from here to there, and she's probably my role model."

Anastacia: "From her very first album till now her voice has been absolutely glorious to listen to. I am affected by every note she hits, which is practically every note on the keyboard."

"You know later in life I was inspired to sing and that would've been Aretha, Chaka Khan, Mariah - the typical divas were the inspiration. I've always enjoyed all those singers."

Singer Anastacia told Dope Music Magazine in Sydney that one of the most intimidating performances of her career was at the United We Stand concert in 2002, with Michael Jackson and Mariah: "Before it, I was so nervous. I was sweating like a pig, seriously. The thought of singing with Michael Jackson and Mariah Carey at the same time was indescribable. I never imagined singing with my life time idols".

Christina Aguilera: In the early stages of her career, Aguilera often cited Mariah as a source of inspiration. "I discovered Mariah in my room one day listening to the radio, and as soon as 'Vision of Love' came on, I ran downstairs going, 'Mommy, Mommy' - I just found the greatest person in the world! I just heard the greatest new voice!

Jessica Simpson: Jessica has cited Mariah as a source of inspiration, and after seeing her perform "We Belong Together" at the 2005 MTV Movie Awards, she can be seen mouthing "I love her!"

Mya: "Wow! That rings a bell - 'Mya and Mariah' that would be nice, she's one of my influences as well. Anything is possible. She has a beautiful voice."

Bethany Joy Galeotti ("One Tree Hill"): "I wrote my first song when I was maybe like four years old. I was always wandering around the house making things up. Back then, I learned a lot about singing from listening to Mariah Carey. I would sing to her [albums] and try and get all her riffs and stuff. I would be in my room for hours until I could get it right, it helps being an only child because I didn't have anything else to do!" (IMDb)


MISCELLANEOUSCeline Dion: Despite rumors of rivalry between the two around the time of Divas Live in 1998, Celine has reportedly commented on Mariah when asked if she would ever duet with her and said something along the lines of "If Mariah was to ask me to duet with her, I will travel immediately 20000 km in order to sing with her for sure!"

Christina Aguilera: "I'm presenting actually, right after she performs. So we were getting, we just did the rehearsal for it, and she just walked by me. I'm like OMG! it's her! I don't think I get starstruck with anyone the way I do with Mariah. I'm still waiting to meet her. I hope...When you interview her, tell her Christina Aguilera thinks she's amazing. She looks amazing..." (Interview with Chris Connelly of MTV News)

Gloria Estefan: Gloria once commented on Mariah saying that it was okay she was cut out of the press photo for Divas Live, because they "had to make room for Mariah's hair."

Keisha Cole: "At the end of the day, I feel blessed to be named with the names in my category, like Mariah."

Missy Elliot: "Mariah, she listens to RAP. She's just straight up cool."

"I remember, when my manager asked me to work with Mariah. I thought I would faint immediately. I mean, the legendary Mariah Carey wanted me to rap on her CD? I was shocked, excited, honored and happy."