Doesn’t it seem like just yesterday when R&B songstress Mariah Carey exploded onto the music scene with her debut single Vision of Love. The song was #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for four consecutive weeks and showcased Mimi’s unparalleled multi-octave range.
But that was 30 years ago and on Friday Mariah turned 50 years old. The singing beauty marked her big day with a simple Instagram photo.
In the pic, which garnered more than 100,000 likes in the first hour, Mariah smiled warmly, standing at a mic with headphones around her neck, and not a speck of makeup on.
And she looked gorgeous. Here’s her image:
Mariah is a singer, songwriter, record producer, actress, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Referred to as the “Songbird Supreme” by Guinness World Records, she is noted for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style, and signature use of the whistle register. She rose to fame in 1990 after signing to Columbia Records and releasing her eponymous debut album, which topped the U.S. Billboard 200 for eleven consecutive weeks.
In 1990 she released her eponymous debut album, which included groundbreaking singles like ‘Vision of Love’ and ‘Love Takes Time.’
A year later she won the Grammy for Best New Artist. Her signature look was made up of tasteful body-hugging mini dresses and spiral curls.
She married music exec Tommy Mottola (20 years her senior) in 1993. The lavish $500,000 affair took place at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York.
Inspired by the wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles, the songstress wore a voluminous Vera Wang gown complete with a 10-foot veil and a 27-foot train, it’s estimated cost was $25,000.
Fifty flower girls (to Diana’s 5) helped her down the aisle.
The union lasted five years.
In 1994, she released her first Christmas-themed album, which included her iconic single ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You.’