Is Mariah Carey married and does she have any children? Inside Mariah Carey’s Love life: Her Husband and Children Unraveled
Mariah Carey, a renowned vocalist of her era, has achieved remarkable success and she becomes a Christmas icon every single December.
At 18, Maria Carey signed with Columbia Records, and her first album had four No. 1 singles, including “Vision of Love” and “I Don’t Wanna Cry.”
Carey went on to generate several more albums (later with other studios) and top singles, becoming one of the most commercially successful artists of all time with 19 No. 1 hits and more than 200 million records sold.
Mariah Carey journey in love and family has been a subject of public interest alongside her illustrious career.
Here’s everything we know about Mariah Carey’s marriages, husbands and children.
Mariah Carey marriage: Is Mariah Carey married?
About Mariah Carey husbands
Mariah Carey has been married twice in the past, Tommy Mottola, Nick Cannon, most recently made headlines for her split from backup dancer Bryan Tanaka.
The longtime couple called it quits in December 2023 after seven years together..
In an Instagram post, Tanaka wrote that the breakup was “amicable” and showed appreciation for the Grammy Award-winning songstress, with whom he worked as a dancer and creative director.
“With mixed emotions, I share this personal update regarding my amicable separation from Mariah Carey after seven extraordinary years together,”he wrote. Our decision to embark on different paths is mutual, and as we navigate these separate journeys, we do so with profound respect and an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the invaluable time we’ve shared. The memories we’ve created and the artistic collaborations are etched in my heart forever.
“I eagerly anticipate continuing my journey, knowing my passion for inspiration, dance, and the creative arts will resonate in the unfolding chapters,” he continued.
Tanaka and Carey first met when Tanaka joined her 2006 The Adventures of Mimi tour as a backup dancer.
The “All I Want for Christmas is You” singer first confirmed their relationship to the AP in 2017.
“I’m just going to be like ‘I really don’t talk about my personal life.’ Because that’s what I used to do and it really worked for a minute, back, a while ago,”she said at the time, smiling. “I just don’t feel comfortable talking about my personal life. … Me and my boyfriend don’t want to do that.”
Rumors of their split began popping up online last month, when fans noticed Tanaka did not join Carey on her Merry Christmas One and All! tour.
Carey has not released a public statement about the breakup.
Tommy Mottola
Carey met Sony Music executive Tommy Mottola at a party, and the performer was 23 when she married the then-43-year-old five years later in June 1993.
The duo divorced in 1998, and she waited to peel back the curtain on their breakup until releasing her September 2020 memoir, “The Meaning of Mariah Carey.”
The songwriter alleged that her ex-husband had a “dense and oppressive” presence that kept her “walking on eggshells” during their time together.
“It felt like he was cutting off my circulation, keeping me from my friends and what little ‘family’ I had,” she claimed. “I couldn’t talk to anyone that wasn’t under Tommy’s control. I couldn’t go out or do anything with anybody. I couldn’t move freely in my own house.”
Carey alleged that she pulled the plug after Mottola threatened her with a butter knife, going on to write that he “used all his power and connections to punish” her when she left both him and Sony Music.
Mottola, who apologized for his “controlling” and “obsessive” behavior in his 2013 “Hitmaker” book, wished his ex-wife “the very best” before her own memoir hit shelves.
Nick Cannon
Carey’s second marriage was to Nick Cannon, whom she met at the Teen Choice Awards in 2005 and began dating three years later.
The couple tied the knot in April 2008, going on to welcome twins Moroccan and Monroe in 2011.
When the pair finalized their divorce in 2016, two years after announcing their separation, they agreed to joint custody of their son and daughter.
Cannon, who is now the father of 10 more children with five different women, has praised his ex in many interviews since their split.
“That woman is not human. She’s a gift from God,” the “Masked Singer” judge told the Shade Room in 2023 before referring to her as the “love of [his] life.”
As for Carey, she gave People insight into their co-parenting dynamic in 2019, saying, “I think Nick and I have done pretty well … staying friends with each other so that we can talk.”
Does Mariah Carey have any children?
About Mariah Carey Children
Carey shares two children, twins Moroccan Cannon and Monroe Cannon, with ex-husband Nick Cannon.
The former couple, who divorced in 2016 after eight years of marriage, welcomed their bundles of joy on April 30, 2011 — the same day as their third wedding anniversary.
Since calling it quits, the pair have put on a united front to support their children, whom they affectionately nicknamed Roc and Roe.
“They’re a lot, but they give me so much love in return. I wouldn’t be the same person without them,” Carey told People in 2019.
“I think Nick and I have done pretty well in co-parenting, staying friends with each other so that we can talk,” she continued.
“I want my kids to understand that every child isn’t as fortunate as they are. … It’s hard, but I try to keep them grounded so they don’t think everything is just handed to them.”
Through the years, Moroccan and Monroe have dipped in and out of the spotlight, appearing with their mom at the 2022 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and even presenting her with a special Billboard Music Award the following year.
Read on for everything you need to know about Mariah Carey twins.
Monroe Cannon
Carey’s daughter, Monroe, was her firstborn.
The “Obsessed” singer wrote in her 2020 memoir, “The Meaning of Mariah Carey,” that she wanted both of her kids to share her initials.
She noted that her daughter’s moniker was inspired by Marilyn Monroe; however, Carey refers to her as Roe. (Unlike Moroccan, Monroe doesn’t have a middle name.)
Much like her mom, the youngster proved she has a set of pipes when she performed “Always Be My Baby” onstage in Los Angeles in 2017.
“Miss Monroe has a really, really good ear for music and a really beautiful tone, but I can’t force her to sing, so if she wants to sing, she’ll sing,” Carey said in 2016.
And the pop diva’s mini-me is a multihyphenate talent, as she made her modeling debut in a 2021 OshKosh B’Gosh commercial, in which she played a younger version of her mom.
“As a little girl, I was determined to realize my dreams,” Carey said in a voice-over.
“Now as a mother, it brings me so much joy to see my children visualize and develop the dreams they hold in their own hearts.”
As she entered her preteen years, Monroe continued to display her passion for music when she joined Carey onstage in Toronto in 2022 for a performance of “Away in a Manger.”
She and her brother have also made a slew of hilarious videos with their parents, revealing they may have inherited some of their dad’s humor.
In a 2023 interview on the “Howie Mandel Does Stuff” podcast, Cannon described the twins as “so intelligent” and “in tune with their own values.”
“It’s my first time having 12-year-olds, and I have a set of them! And we’re having real conversations,” he explained.
“Because, you know, their lives are far from normal. Their mom is one of the biggest entertainers to ever live — and their dad is me.”
Moroccan Scott Cannon
Moroccan was born just after his sister.
In keeping with Carey’s desire for “MC” initials, he was named after the Moroccan-inspired decor in the singer’s New York City apartment, where she got engaged to the “Wild ‘N Out” star.
Although Moroccan, who goes by both Roc and Rocky, has appeared in several modeling campaigns with his family through the years and has even taken the stage with the “Touch My Body” singer multiple times, he seems to keep a slightly lower profile than his sister.
He appeared on his mom’s Instagram after they adopted two kittens in 2013 and when he adorable lost one of his teeth in 2017.
“My tooth fell out and I’m so excited and so happy. I want to show my mom so bad,” the then-5-year-old sweetly said.
He also featured in a video from New Year’s Eve 2020, in which he gave a hilarious speech.
“A lot of people might’ve not thought that this year was perfect, but this year was inspiring to me … ’cause I had it too good for too long, man,” Moroccan said. “And I just was like ‘Ah, this is so good,’ and I needed a jumpstart.”
Moroccan’s dad revealed his mini-me has a funny side — and even once called him a “player” in reference to his ever-growing brood of children.
“It’s the funniest thing, my kids call me a player. I was like, ‘Who taught you that word? Who’s been talking to you?’” Cannon told “Entertainment Tonight” in 2020. “And [Moroccan’s] like, ‘Dad, you can’t be a player forever.’ I’m like, this is the worst.”
Moroccan’s sense of humor was even corroborated by Kim Kardashian, who called him “the funniest kid” in a 2023 Instagram post.
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