Mariah Carey’s tragic promise to her mom despite their ‘complicated’ relationship

Mariah Carey's tragic promise to her mom despite their 'complicated' relationship

As an ardent fan of Mariah Carey, I find her story deeply moving and profoundly insightful. Her memoir offers a unique glimpse into her complex relationship with her mother, Patricia, a relationship filled with love, pain, and contradictions. It’s heartwrenching to see the struggle that Mariah experienced due to her mother’s jealousy and the emotional turmoil it caused in their bond.


Mariah Carey has revealed a heartfelt vow she pledged to her deceased mother, despite their tense connection.

This past weekend, the Grammy-winning artist, aged 55, suffered a profound loss as she learned that her mother Patricia, at 87 years old, and her sister Alison, who was 63, both passed away on the same day.

In her autobiography, “The Meaning of Mariah Carey,” published in 2020, Mariah freely shared insights about her strained bond with her mother, who was a trained vocal coach from Julliard and had sung as a mezzo-soprano at the New York City Opera.

Mariah candidly expressed: ‘My relationship with my mom, much like other parts of my life, has been marked by a blend of conflicting truths and coexisting realities.’

‘It’s never been only black-and-white – it’s been a whole rainbow of emotions.’

Mariah Carey's tragic promise to her mom despite their 'complicated' relationship

Mariah Carey's tragic promise to her mom despite their 'complicated' relationship
Mariah Carey's tragic promise to her mom despite their 'complicated' relationship

Mariah went on to say: ‘[Our relationship was like] a tangled thread of honor, hurt, humiliation, appreciation, envy, respect, and disillusionment.’

She openly mentioned that the strain they’ve been dealing with has caused them a great deal of distress and bewilderment.

As a lifestyle expert, I must confess that, amidst our challenges, an intricate bond of love binds my heart to my mother’s. This complex emotion remains unchanged.

The artist penned: “I cherished her profoundly, and much like any child, I longed for her to serve as a sanctuary for me.”

‘But ours is a story of betrayal and beauty. Of love and abandonment. Of sacrifice and survival. 

Several times, I’ve broken free from the chains that held me back, yet I feel a persistent melancholy that I believe will never fully depart, not solely due to my mother, but because of the intricate path we walked together.

The singer suggested that the jealousy exhibited by her mother towards her singing career might have been a significant factor contributing to their problems.

Mariah admitted that jealousy often accompanies success, but when the source of jealousy is your own mother, and this jealousy surfaces at such a young age, it is especially hurtful.

Mariah Carey's tragic promise to her mom despite their 'complicated' relationship

The singer confessed that she shared the same ‘intense’ temperament as Patricia. 

In her memoir, she noted: ‘I’ve left space in my heart and schedule for her, yet with defined limits.’

‘Creating boundaries with the woman who gave birth to me is not easy – it is a work in progress.’

Despite the strained nature of their relationship, Mariah expressed a heartfelt promise towards her mother in the opening dedication of her memoir, declaring that she would always cherish her love for her.

To Pat, my dear mother, who I truly think gave her utmost effort throughout our journey, I express my love as well as I am able, forever and a day.

In 2017, Mariah candidly discussed her complex relationship with her mother in an interview with Paper, stating: ‘Admittedly, I have had my moments of diva-ism, and sometimes people find it hard to cope. Perhaps it’s a bit overwhelming, considering I hail from a genuine diva stock.’

My mother is an accomplished opera singer, and when I say she’s a ‘diva,’ I mean it in the highest regard. She graduated from Juilliard, so when others claim to be ‘divas,’ they’re hardly comparing. Truth be told, if you haven’t grown up with my mom, you can’t truly understand what it means to be a diva.

‘And I mean it as a compliment, or I wouldn’t be the person I am without experiencing that. 

Mariah Carey's tragic promise to her mom despite their 'complicated' relationship
Mariah Carey's tragic promise to her mom despite their 'complicated' relationship

Whenever I speak in a manner similar to saying, “Dahling da da da da,” it feels as if I’m expressing myself in the style of my mother.

She doesn’t constantly use the term “dahling,” but her tone has a certain quality to it – one that seems to slip out unintentionally, and it’s not done with any intent to disrespect.

‘I just do it and it just happens, and it’s like [in diva voice], “I don’t even know why.”

On Monday, Mariah told People, “My heart is shattered because I’ve lost my mother over the weekend. Unfortunately, on the same day, my sister passed away in a terrible incident.”

‘I feel blessed that I was able to spend the last week with my mom before she passed.

‘I appreciate everyone’s love and support and respect for my privacy during this impossible time.’ 

In my own words, I’ve always found myself at a distance from my late sister, Alison. In the pages of my memoir, I admitted that maintaining contact with her wasn’t emotionally or physically safe for me.

The cause of death has not been confirmed yet for neither Patricia or Alison. 

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2024-08-27 20:50

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