From R&B to her secret 1995 grunge album: Mariah Carey, the Queen of Christmas, honored at MusiCares Gala with star-studded tribute

Mariah Carey, known worldwide as the Queen of Christmas, was recently honored at the MusiCares Person of the Year Gala in Los Angeles. The occasion, part of Grammy weekend, recognizes artists not only for their musical achievements but also for their philanthropic attempts. Carey’s decades-long career, covering R&B, pop, ballads, and even experimental initiatives, was celebrated through performances by some of the world’s top artists. Cross-genre tributes included renditions of her most popular hits as well as her secret 1995 grunge album, Someone’s Ugly Daughter. The night was a joyful, star-studded celebration of music, artistry, and philanthropy.

A Star-Studded Musical Tribute

The concert portion of the evening started with a medley by Jennifer Hudson, performing “I Don’t Wanna Cry,” “My All,” “Vision of Love,” and “Make It Happen.” Viewers were then astonished by performances of two tracks from Carey’s 1995 grunge album Someone’s Ugly Daughter, recorded under the pseudonym Chick and disclosed by Carey in 2020. Taylor Momsen and the Foo Fighters offered the grunge songs “Love Is a Scam” and “Demented,” while Carey sang along from her seat at the Los Angeles Convention Center.


Throughout the evening, other performers honored Carey’s wide catalog. Laufey reimagined “It’s Like That” in a jazzy bossa nova style, Kesha provided a lively performance of “Obsessed,” Maggie Rogers sang “Honey,” and Teddy Swims brought emotion to “Without You.” Charlie Puth and John Legend paired for versions of “I Still Believe” and “Hero,” while Adam Lambert performed “I Can’t Let Go.”

The night concluded with Jon Batiste leading an all-star singalong of Carey’s legendary “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Despite a brief lyric mishap, Carey emerged from backstage to save the performance, joining the artists and making the event to a happy close.

Carey’s Reflections

In her acceptance speech, Carey mirrored on the honor, citing, “Standing here tonight surrounded by so many friendly and familiar faces – people I’ve worked with, people I’ve long admired, and even people I thought I’d never see again – [there’s] so much love, so much music, it’s overwhelming in the best possible way. It really is unbelievable.”

She further said, “Receiving this honor is one of the most profound moments of my life and career, and that’s kind of a big deal.” Carey also shared her appreciation for seeing her songs reinterpreted, stating, “Tonight, it’s been sublime to hear my songs reimagined by some of the world’s greatest artists… Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be here with all these magnificent artists singing my songs back to me, infusing them with their own artistry and giving them all new life. This has given me life.”

FAQs:

Q1. What is the MusiCares Person of the Year Gala?
It is an annual celebration honoring artists for their musical accomplishments and charitable work. The gala raises funds for the health and welfare of the music community.

Q2. Why was Mariah Carey honored?
She was popular for her decades-long contributions to music and philanthropy. Her career spans legendary hits, vocal mastery, and groundbreaking projects.