Queen Mariah, also known as the Empress of Glitter and High Notes, is here to sprinkle some wisdom (and maybe a little shade) on what it’s like to be a superstar — and how Chappell Roan is involved in this fabulous saga.
In a chat with the Associated Press (because, of course, Mariah only graces the fanciest outlets), the Caution diva dished on the wild rollercoaster ride that is fame. And let’s be real, if anyone knows about drama, it’s Mariah — the woman can sing five octaves and has an ongoing feud with time itself (it’s always Christmas in her world).
“I’ve had my fair share of dramas,” she begins, with the kind of understatement you’d expect from someone whose life is basically a 24/7 soap opera.
“And it’s not fun because you grow up thinking, ‘I want to be famous,’” Mariah reveals, probably sipping from a diamond-encrusted goblet at this point.
Yeah, fame sounds cool until you realize it comes with people asking you about your shoe collection 24/7 and why you only perform on certain days of the week (diva behavior is exhausting, okay?).
But hold up, Mimi isn’t just about fame for fame’s sake. Oh no. “I want to be a singer. I want to write songs,” she continues, showing us that deep down inside the sequins and tiaras is a true artist — one who just happens to enjoy walking down a staircase like she’s descending from Mount Olympus.
“But ‘I want to be famous’ was right there with it,” she admits, because, let’s be honest, no one slays as hard as Mariah without basking in the glow of the spotlight. But fame wasn’t always smooth sailing, oh no. Growing up, she had her insecurities. Yes, even the woman who belts out whistle notes like it’s no big deal had doubts.
“I feel like it was probably because I didn’t feel like I was good enough on my own because of the things I went through growing up,” she confesses. Cue the violins! Even superstars have their moments of vulnerability. Let’s all take a moment to appreciate that Mariah Carey, the literal goddess of Christmas, is human too (just with way better wardrobe options).
So, what’s her sage advice for the rising stars of the world, like Chappell Roan? Well, it’s simple: “Try your hardest to go into this industry with a love of your talent or what’s really real for you,” she advises, essentially saying, “If you’re just in it for the Instagram followers, good luck, sweetie.”
And don’t think Mariah is here for the wannabe fame-chasers! “If it’s like, ‘I want to be famous. I want to run around with those people, whoever they are, the famous people,’ then it’s probably not the best idea,” she quips, probably while adjusting her crown.
Translation: If you’re in it for the glitz and glam alone, you’re gonna be in for a rude awakening! Mariah’s been there, done that, and still managed to out-sing all of us in the process.
So take notes, aspiring stars. If you want to rise to Mariah’s level, start by loving your craft — and maybe invest in a wind machine or two. Because if you can’t stand the heat of the diva life, well, you’ll just have to sit in the audience and watch Mariah sparkle from afar.
