Mariah Carey shared the touching promise she made to her late mother, despite their strained relationship.
Over the weekend, the Grammy-winning singer, 55, was devastated by the life-changing news that her mother Patricia, 87, and sister Alison, 63, had passed away on the same day.
In Mariah’s memoir, The Meaning Of Mariah Carey, which was published in 2020, she spoke candidly about her strained relationship with her mother, who was a Julliard-trained vocal coach and sang mezzo-soprano at the New York City Opera.
Mariah transparently shared: ‘Like many aspects of my life, my journey with my mother has been filled with contradictions and competing realities.
“It’s never been just black and white: it’s been a whole rainbow of emotions.”
Mariah Carey has shared the touching promise she made to her late mother (M), despite their strained relationship
Over the weekend, the Grammy-winning singer (L), 55, was devastated by the life-changing news that both her mother Patricia (R), 87, and sister Alison, 63, had passed away.
Pictured: Mariah (right) with her mother (left), in an undated photo.
Mariah continued: ‘(Our relationship was) a thorny rope of pride, pain, shame, gratitude, jealousy, admiration and disappointment.’
He added that his personal stress has led the artist to experience “a lot of pain and confusion.”
Mariah admitted that despite her struggles, there is still a “complicated love that binds her heart to her mother’s.”
The singer also wrote: ‘I loved her deeply and like most children, I wanted her to be a safe place for me.
But ours is a story of betrayal and beauty. Of love and abandonment. Of sacrifice and survival.
‘I have been emancipated from slavery several times, but there is a cloud of sadness that I suspect will always hang over me, not only for my mother, but for our complicated journey together.’
The singer claimed that her mother’s “jealousy” regarding her singing career may have caused most of her problems.
Mariah confessed: ‘(That jealousy) comes with success, but when the person is your mother, and the jealousy is revealed at such a tender age, it is particularly painful.’
In Mariah’s memoir, titled The Meaning Of Mariah Carey, which was published in 2020, she spoke candidly about her strained relationship with her mother (right), who was a vocal coach.
The singer confessed that she shared the same ‘intense’ temperament as Patricia.
He added in his memoirs: ‘I have reserved a space in my heart and in my life to embrace her, but with limits.
“Setting boundaries with the woman who gave birth to me is not easy; it is a work in progress.”
Despite their tarnished relationship, Mariah made a touching promise to her mother in the opening dedication of her memoir, writing that she will “always” love her.
Mariah wrote with love and thoughtfulness: “And to Pat, my mother, who, despite everything, I believe did the best she could. I will love you as best I can, always.”
In 2017, Mariah openly shared her ‘complicated’ bond with her mother with Paper And she said, ‘I’ve actually had diva moments, and then people can’t stand it. I guess it’s a little intense, because I come from a real diva background.
‘My mother is an opera singer. And she’s a real diva, you know? The Juilliard diva. And other people say, “I’m a diva.” And I say, “Honey, you don’t know what a diva is, you didn’t grow up with my mother.”
“And I mean that as a compliment, or I wouldn’t be the person I am without experiencing that.
Mariah (M) transparently shared: ‘Like many aspects of my life, my journey with my mother (L) has been filled with contradictions and competing realities’
Mariah also had a strained relationship with her late sister Alison (left), writing that it was “emotionally and physically safer for her to not have any contact (with her).”
“And then when people hear me say things like, ‘Dahling da da da da’ and talk like that, it’s like I’m channeling my mother.
‘It’s not that she says “honey” all the time, but it’s like that voice… it’s like I do it without realizing it, and I don’t do it to disrespect her.
“I just do it and it just happens, and it’s like (in diva voice), ‘I don’t even know why.'”
On Monday, Mariah shared with People‘I am heartbroken to have lost my mother last weekend. Sadly, in a tragic turn of events, my sister lost her life on the same day.
‘I feel blessed to have been able to spend the last week with my mom before she passed away.
‘I appreciate everyone’s love and support and respect for my privacy during this impossible time.’
Mariah also had a strained relationship with her late sister Alison, writing in her memoir that “it was emotionally and physically safer for her not to have any contact[with her].”
The cause of death for Patricia and Alison has not yet been confirmed.