Mariah Carey is opening up about her past. The beloved singer and pop diva has been making music for decades, becoming one of the most emblematic pop icons of all time. In a new interview, Carey has reflected on her successful career and life, including a troubled childhood and complex dynamic with her late mother and sister.
In an interview with Harper's Bazaar, Carey opened up about her life as a young girl, which she explored in depth in her memoir "The Meaning of Mariah Carey," which she co-wrote with the journalist Michaela Angela Davis.
Carey revealed that she narrated the book, which scared her and left her reliving many of her bad childhood memories. "I knew it was going to bring up bad memories I didn’t want to relive. It was a tough situation to go to sleep listening to it… I’d wake up and be kind of freaked out. Because this is me and I went through that," she said.
In the book, Carey shares details of her dysfunctional family life, including a strained relationship with her siblings that often turned violent. To find refuge and solace, Carey turned to music, something that her mother, a Juilliard-trained Opera singer, encouraged.
"We didn’t always have the world’s greatest relationship, but certain things she said or did resonated with me as a kid," said Carey. "She once told me: 'Don’t say if I make it, say when I make it.' That just stuck with me, and I never gave up."
Carey's mother and sister died last year on the same day, leaving Carey grieving. No more details were shared.
Carey's statements following her mother and sister's death
Following their deaths, Carey shared a moving statement. "My heart is broken that I’ve lost my mother this past weekend. Sadly, in a tragic turn of events, my sister lost her life on the same day," she said to PEOPLE.
"I feel blessed that I was able to spend the last week with my mom before she passed," she continued. "I appreciate everyone’s love and support and respect for my privacy during this impossible time."