For months, followers have speculated about Mariah Carey’s response to Muni Lengthy’s efficiency of “We Belong Collectively” on the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards.
Clips of the “Emotion” singer showing uncomfortable went viral, sparking limitless debate on-line. Many puzzled if the singer was shading Lengthy throughout her tribute.
Now, Carey is setting the file straight, lastly sharing her facet of the story whereas additionally opening up about how she actually feels about artists overlaying her songs.
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Mariah Carey Explains Her Emotions About Covers
Mariah Carey admitted that she isn’t all the time comfy with different artists performing her songs.
In an interview with GQ, she defined that her emotions partly got here from a dialog she as soon as had with singer Prince.
She recalled, “I really like ‘The Stunning Ones’ a lot. And I keep in mind Prince, he didn’t like folks to redo his songs. He mentioned to me, ‘I really like ‘Honey’ although.’ However about [my cover of] ‘The Stunning Ones,’ he mentioned he didn’t like when folks did covers of his songs.”
Carey mentioned she may relate to his standpoint. When requested immediately if she enjoys listening to covers of her personal songs, she replied actually, “Not likely.”
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The Viral Response That Sparked Debate
As The Blast reported, Mariah Carey was honored with the Icon Award on the March 2025 iHeartRadio Awards, celebrating her decades-long affect on music.
Throughout the occasion, Lengthy took the stage to sing “We Belong Collectively.”
Whereas the efficiency was meant as a tribute, a clip displaying Carey wanting away at one level shortly went viral.
Followers on social media argued over whether or not she was unimpressed, with some suggesting she had intentionally shaded Lengthy.
Throughout the interview with GQ, the 56-year-old clarified that her response had nothing to do with Lengthy’s vocals.
As an alternative, she mentioned she didn’t notice on the time that the singer was even overlaying her music.
“I didn’t even hear the duvet. I didn’t comprehend it occurred. Nobody instructed me,” Carey defined.
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She added that the sound within the venue might have contributed to her confusion, saying, “I simply didn’t know that she had carried out ‘We Belong Collectively’ ‘trigger her music was so comparable… I had no concept that she did ‘We Belong Collectively.’”
Carey additionally famous that she was “very honored and flattered” that Lengthy sang the music. “I really like Muni Lengthy, she’s a fantastic particular person, umm, however I simply don’t like folks doing my songs,” she mentioned.
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Muni Lengthy Defends Her Tribute And Shares Mariah Carey’s Reward
After the awards present, Lengthy took to social media to defend her efficiency and to set the file straight.
She defined that singing “We Belong Collectively” was not her concept; it was particularly requested.
“You thought I selected to get on TV and sing a Mariah Carey music? You thought that was my selection? Why would I try this? No one can sing Mariah’s songs like Mariah. No one,” she mentioned.
Lengthy emphasised that she did her finest with the second she was given. “I did my finest, and that’s all I can do,” she defined.
The 37-year-old additionally revealed that Carey complimented her privately after the present.
Though she had proof of the icon’s phrases, she refused to share them out of respect.
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“She instructed me I did a fantastic job, she appreciated it,” Lengthy mentioned. “However I’m not gonna publish the footage as a result of her lighting wasn’t proper. You know the way Ms. Carey is about her lighting.”
Lengthy even joked that if Carey had overtly criticized her, she would nonetheless have accepted it with grace.
Carey Publicly Praises Lengthy And Kelly
Two days after the viral second, Mariah Carey made her emotions clear with a public message.
She praised Lengthy and Tori Kelly, who additionally carried out through the tribute with a rendition of “At all times Be My Child.”
On Instagram, Carey posted an image of the trio and wrote, per The Blast, “So past grateful for these two attractive, uber-talented, type, unimaginable musicians who made my coronary heart so stuffed with pleasure with their tribute performances on the @iheartradio awards. I really like and respect you a lot!!!”
The Grammy Award winner additionally appeared in a video shared by iHeartRadio, smiling as Lengthy hit her ultimate be aware, contradicting claims that she had been unimpressed.
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Muni Lengthy Shares Gratitude To Mariah Carey
Lengthy responded to Carey’s public publish with a heartfelt message of her personal.
She commented, “Thanks @mariahcarey for selecting me to honor you on this magical second! You ARE my Icon and I’m your endlessly lamb. I really like you! The little lady in me is screaming.”
For Lengthy, the possibility to carry out for Carey was a profession spotlight.
She instructed followers that it doesn’t matter what critics mentioned, she was proud to have been chosen.
“No one can sing Mariah’s songs like Mariah,” Lengthy repeated, making clear that her efficiency was meant solely as a tribute and signal of respect.
