Christmas is coming, and that can only mean one thing: Mariah Carey is about to defrost. This year the Queen of Christmas is bringing her festive show to the UK for the first time since 2019, with arena dates in Birmingham, London and Manchester between 27 November and 2 December 2026.
It is the perfect excuse to look back at one of the most decorated voices in pop history - from a teenage demo tape in New York to 19 US number ones and a Christmas song that refuses to leave the charts. Browse more tribute designs in our Pop Music collection.
Mariah Carey Fact File
| Full name | Mariah Carey |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 27 March 1969 (age 57) |
| Place of birth | Huntington, New York, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, record producer, actress |
| Years active | 1988-present |
| Genres | R&B, pop, hip-hop, soul |
| Labels | Columbia, Virgin, Island Def Jam, Epic, Gamma |
| Studio albums | 16 |
| Nicknames | Songbird Supreme, the Queen of Christmas |
Career History
| Years | Label | Key albums |
|---|---|---|
| 1990-1999 | Columbia | Mariah Carey, Music Box, Merry Christmas, Daydream, Butterfly |
| 2001 | Virgin | Glitter |
| 2002-2014 | Island Def Jam | The Emancipation of Mimi, E=MC2, Merry Christmas II You |
| 2018 | Epic | Caution |
| 2025 | Gamma | Here for It All |
Years show the release span of her studio albums on each label, not contract dates.
Early Years and a Record-Breaking Debut
Born on Long Island, Carey moved to Manhattan after school and worked as a backing singer while shopping her demo. That tape found its way to Columbia Records, and her self-titled debut arrived in 1990.
The start was extraordinary. Her first five singles all went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and the five-octave range and whistle notes became her calling card almost overnight.
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The 1990s: Daydream, Butterfly and One Sweet Day
Music Box (1993) and Daydream (1995) turned her into a global superstar. From Daydream came One Sweet Day with Boyz II Men, which spent 16 consecutive weeks at number one in the US - a record at the time.
Butterfly (1997) leaned further into hip-hop and R&B, a blend that pointed the way for a generation of pop singers who followed.
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A Christmas Song for the Ages
Released on 29 October 1994, All I Want for Christmas Is You took 25 years to reach the US number one spot, finally getting there in December 2019. It has since logged 22 weeks at number one in the US, the most of any song in Hot 100 history, and it topped the UK chart for the first time in December 2020.
The Comeback and the Here for It All Era
After a quieter spell, The Emancipation of Mimi (2005) delivered We Belong Together, which spent 14 weeks at the US summit. Her 19 Hot 100 number ones are the most by a solo artist, second only to The Beatles.
Her 16th studio album, Here for It All, landed in September 2025 and debuted inside the US top ten. She then sang at the opening ceremony of the Milan Winter Olympics in February 2026 and released a 30th anniversary edition of Daydream that summer.
Honours
Grammy Awards
- 5 wins from 34 nominations, plus the Grammy Global Impact Award
Chart records
- 19 Billboard Hot 100 number ones, the most by a solo artist
- One Sweet Day: 16 consecutive weeks at US number one
- All I Want for Christmas Is You: 22 weeks at US number one
Other honours
- Songwriters Hall of Fame, class of 2022
- 10 American Music Awards and 14 Billboard Music Awards
- MTV Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, 2025
Away From the Spotlight
Carey co-founded Camp Mariah, a youth programme, in 1994. She also co-produced the Tony-nominated Broadway musical Some Like It Hot, and her 2020 memoir The Meaning of Mariah Carey reached number one on the New York Times bestseller list.
FAQs
How old is Mariah Carey?
Mariah Carey was born on 27 March 1969, which makes her 57 years old as of October 2026.
Where was Mariah Carey born?
She was born in Huntington, on Long Island in New York, and later moved to Manhattan to chase her music career.
How many albums has Mariah Carey released?
She has released 16 studio albums, from Mariah Carey (1990) to Here for It All (2025), including two Christmas albums and the Glitter soundtrack.
How many number ones does Mariah Carey have?
She has 19 Billboard Hot 100 number ones, the most by any solo artist and second only to The Beatles.
When did All I Want for Christmas Is You come out?
It was released on 29 October 1994 on her album Merry Christmas, and first reached US number one in December 2019.
Is Mariah Carey touring the UK in 2026?
Yes. Her Christmastime tour plays Birmingham on 27 November, The O2 in London on 30 November and Co-op Live in Manchester on 2 December 2026.
Shop the Mariah Carey Collection
Our Mariah Carey designs are fan-made tribute pieces, printed to order in the UK.
Explore more in our Pop Music, R&B Music and Female Singers collections. Want something personal? Try our Custom Name Men's Hoodie.
Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: Whitney Houston Career Story and Boyz II Men Career Story.
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