14 things you probably didn't know about Mariah Carey

Max KalnitzDec 4, 2020, 00:56 IST

December means playing Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" on repeat.Brent N. Clarke/Invision/AP

Even before Mariah Carey released her smash hit "All I Want For Christmas Is You" in 1994, the singer was in the public eye.
Her parents named her after the song "They Call The Wind Maria" from the 1951 Broadway musical "Paint Your Wagon."
She is obsessed with Marilyn Monroe and bought the actress' baby grand piano at auction for over $600,000.

It's Christmas time, which means that it'll be practically impossible to go the next month without hearing Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You." Whether you love the song or hate it, there's no denying its mark on the music world: Mariah's hit is the first song to land at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in four different decades.

That's not the only interesting fact about the singer. In honor of it being Mimi's time of the year, we rounded up interesting facts about her.

After she was born on March 27, 1970, Mariah Carey's parents named her after a song from a Broadway musical.

Mariah Carey in 1990. Frank Micelotta Archive/Getty Images

Carey takes after her mother, who is a Juilliard-trained opera singer and a vocal coach.

Mariah Carey in 1990. Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

In high school, she was notorious for cutting class.

Mariah Carey at the second Annual Billboard Music Awards in 1991. Ron Galella, Ltd./Getty Images

Before hitting it big Carey attended cosmetology school in Manhattan.

Mariah Carey getting her makeup applied during a Today show appearance in 2003. Mark Mainz/Getty Images

She also worked as a waitress, but the gig didn't last long.

Mariah Carey in 2018. Noam Galai/Getty Images

Her role as Brenda K. Starr's backup singer led to her landing a record deal.

Brenda K. Starr in 1988. Paul Natkin/Getty Images

Carey has an impressive five-octave vocal range.

Mariah Carey performing in 2016. Mondadori Portfolio/Getty Images

Carey is slightly obsessed with Marilyn Monroe.

Marilyn Monroe's baby grand piano which Mariah Carey now owns. HENNY RAY ABRAMS/Getty Images

She has a camp named after her.

Mariah Carey walking with campers at Camp Mariah in n Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1996. Kevin.Mazur/INACTIVE/Getty Images

Patti LaBelle is Carey's godmother.

Mariah Carey presented Patti LaBelle with the Living Legend Award during "Black Girls Rock!" in 2013. Johnny Nunez/Getty Images

Ex-husband Nick Cannon has said he and Carey had sex to the singer's music.

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon in 2013. Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images

Carey has eight dogs, and they reportedly live a pretty lavish lifestyle.

Mariah Carey performing with one of her dogs in 2012. James Devaney/Getty Images

Carey's support of the LGBT community won her the GLAAD Ally Award in 2016.

Mariah Carey at the 2016 GLAAD Media Awards. Brent N. Clarke/Getty Images

She is the only artist in history to have a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in four different decades.

Mariah Carey in 2019 accepting a Guinness World Record for the "Highest-charting holiday (Christmas/New Year) song on the US Hot 100 by a solo artist" for "All I Want for Christmas is You." Denise Truscello/Getty Images

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