Five-time Grammy award-winning songstress and cultural icon Mariah Carey is going into the New Year sparking rumors about who might be keeping her warm. While typically known for maintaining a private personal life, she was spotted leaving dinner holding hands with fellow musical artist and one-half of Silk Sonic, Anderson .Paak. This isn’t the only time that the crooners were seen sharing space and time, as People reports. It’s the second time this winter that the two were in close quarters and photographed leaving a restaurant all smiles.
And yet two dates may or may not be what it takes to make the millionaire mother of two consider filling the spot of a potential beau that’s healthily obsessed. Longtime fans of Carey know that residency dates and mama duties take up plenty of her time. While she’s seemingly been enjoying the single life in 2024, it is worth noting that the “We Belong Together” singer does believe in being wined and dined, boasting a handsome dating history of dancers and well-to-do-ers.
The Breakout Ballad Star Married Music Mogul Tommy Mottola in 1993
After getting her music into Tommy Mottola’s hands in the early ’90s, Mariah Carey’s career skyrocketed into musical history. The couple wedded shortly thereafter, entering into five years of what she described as being controlled by the former Sony executive. The “Vision of Love” singer was only 23 when they parted, despite their 21-year age difference. Mottola, freshly divorced, then had a fling with J-Lo, also freshly divorced, shortly thereafter. It’s quite possible that the sequence of events sparked Carey’s viral and timeless shade reference, “I don’t know her.”
Carey Confirmed Her Brief Fling With Derek Jeter in 1997
Confirmed in September 2020 via an interview with Vulture by the sultry songstress herself, Carey spoke of having a secret fling with Yankees great Derek Jeter during the last year of her marriage with Mottola. It’s said that their romance not only led to Carey’s divorce from the music executive and to the song “My All,” but also to “The Roof” which was on Carey’s Butterfly album. The singer has spoken fondly of their kindred bond of having Black and Irish heritage, although the warmth she experienced in spending time with his family felt different than what she experienced growing up.
Moving on to Musician Luis Miguel
Carey eventually moved on to date Dutch model Marcus Schenkenberg for four months. Not much to comment upon here outside of the model continuing to date prominent (blonde) women like Pamela Anderson and Jessica Simpson. Conversely, the Afro-Venezuelan artists would continue along the brunette and tanned track to Mexican singer Luis Miguel. A bit of a lengthier excitement, Carey and Miguel dated for three years. The latter also boasted a successful career, as one of the most famous Latino artists of the time, which led to conflicts in schedule and alleged infidelity.
The ‘Obsessed’ Singer Was (Sneaky) Linked To Slim Shady a.k.a. Eminem
Mariah Carey was rumored not only to have dissed and been dissed by Eminem but also to have dated him. The pair allegedly connected in 2001, as Eminem confirmed in 2002; however, Billboard notes that Carey denied the gossip formally in 2020. Their feud would lead to the development of Mariah’s “Clown” in 2002 on her Charmbracelet album, and the chart-topping “Obsessed” in 2009 fittingly from her Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel album.
The drama led the R&B icon to bring out an Eminem look-alike on a tour and having him be controlled by puppeteers, exemplifying the terms she uses for the rapper: “clown” and “puppet.” Several songs by Eminem including “The Warning” and “Superman” would poke at their alleged rendez vous although nothing was sticky enough to imply confirmation of the longtime rumor.
Queen of Christmas Tied the Knot With Nick Cannon in 2008
Those who consider this pairing to be one of Carey’s least likely picks forget the artist’s affinity for musicians with pockets well-laced. The couple made it down the aisle (a second for Carey and a first for Cannon) before welcoming two children, Monroe and Moroccan. Carey has Cannon as her soulmate, gushing that she “never felt a love like this was in the cards” for her. Similarly, Cannon has referred to Carey as “the love of his life.” After six weeks of dating in 2008, the couple married and stayed together for six years, officially divorcing in 2016.
Since their split, Cannon has shared that his ego got in the way of their relationship as he would wonder if he was his own person or “Mariah’s man.” He has, however, also admitted to still loving her very much despite not wanting to come in the way of her subsequent relationships.
Brian Tanaka and Mariah Carey Called It Quits in 2023
The star’s third engagement was to Australian billionaire James Packer who she began dating in 2015. Following the end of their betrothal, Carey sold her 35-carat diamond ring for just over $2 million. She has since spoken about the relationship, claiming it was “never physical” while Packer says it happened during “a dark time” in his life. The two financially fortunate figures were no longer linked after 2016, making room for her to explore her connection with backup dancer Bryan Tanaka.
The two met in 2006 during her Adventures of Mimi tour, but would not embark on their seven-year, on-again off-again journey until 2016. In the end, it was reported that Tanaka, 14 years her junior, wanted children while Carey did not. Their amicable breakup was announced via Instagram ahead of Mimi’s New Year’s post welcoming “new beginnings” that appear to be flourishing, almost a year later, with “Come Down” singer Andersoon .Paak.
Anderson .Paak Has the Starlet Smiling in Aspen This Holiday Season
Carey, who has been publicly single for a year, has been spotted holding hands and smiling with fellow music world member Anderson .Paak. Around the same time that Carey and Tanaka called it quits, .Paak and his ex-wife were on the rocks and headed for divorce; he filed in 2024 after 13 years of marriage. The couple met in college, sticking together for many years as they weathered storms. Becoming parents to their firstborn Rasheed, the family found themselves homeless between 2010 and 2011.
The release of .Paak’s second album, however, would lead to better days and a second child, Shine Tariq in 2017. Around the same time, continued success led to his pairing with Bruno Mars to form Silk Sonic and an eventual parting of ways with his wife Jae Lin. It remains unconfirmed what led to the ending of their relationship. However, the singer-drummer’s connection to Mariah Carey only dates back to December 2024, first being seen together in Aspen at a Mediterranean restaurant holding hands and exchanging a kiss. This was followed by a second date, at Catch Steak, indicating things are off to a strong start for this musically-inclined pair.