Vault: Interview - Mariah Carey

Summary

The Bert Show – Vault Interview: Mariah Carey

Release Date: October 31, 2025
Host: Burt & The Bert Show Cast (Kristin, Abby, Cassie, Tommy & more)
Guest: Mariah Carey

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Episode Overview

This special “Vault” episode features an in-depth interview with Mariah Carey. The focus is on Mariah’s day-to-day life, her relationship with fame and privacy, the experiences of living in New York both before and after 9/11, misconceptions perpetuated by the media, maintaining her authentic self, and the inspiring story behind her song "Through the Rain." The tone is candid, warm, and often humorous, offering listeners a glimpse into the reality behind Mariah’s celebrity persona.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Mariah’s Daily Life and Balance

• Mariah’s Routine: She describes her days as being packed—meeting fans, attending contest events, enjoying rare moments of solitude like swimming, and spending little time truly to herself.

  • "Yesterday I was in Miami... met a bunch of different fans that were contest winners... then I actually got to go swimming, which was a nice thing because that's like my favorite thing." (Mariah, 02:50)

• Privacy and Public Perception

  • Mariah talks about the challenge of finding privacy, especially in public places where she's recognized instantly, even when trying to blend in without her entourage.
    • "I tried to tone it on down and, like, not have, like, an entourage... but I guess it ended up that you could tell." (Mariah, 03:59)

• Self-Consciousness and Media Exposure

  • She candidly reflects on always being photographed and how everyday moments can turn into something less "cute" when fans and cameras are present.
    • “It's not that it feels calculated... just picture this: you walk in somewhere and there's a video camera on you, and you're not expecting it.” (Mariah, 05:17)

Fame, Personal Freedom, and Living in New York

• No More Driving

  • Mariah reveals she hasn’t driven herself in years for safety and practical reasons, especially in New York.
    • "I'm never driving around because I let my license expire... I'm better off as a passenger..." (Mariah, 05:47 & 06:08)

• Post-9/11 New York

  • Mariah discusses how her view from her apartment was forever changed after 9/11 and how the tragedy shifted the city’s mood—at least temporarily—towards greater warmth and camaraderie among New Yorkers.
    • "I look out my window and my view was the Twin Towers... now when I look out there, it's just really sad." (Mariah, 06:44)
    • "After September 11th, people became very friendly. Like, whoa, you know, we're all in this together." (Mariah, 07:42)

Media, Misconceptions, and Resilience

• Treatments by Media

  • Mariah expresses her nuanced view of the media, understanding their need to sell stories but also describing the frustrations of reading fabrications, even in credible outlets.
    • "You get a lot better ratings saying, Mariah Carey had her 93rd breakdown today and went to 23 fat farms and, you know, beat some guy up on the street..." (Mariah, 08:25)
    • “I used to think that this was actually, you know, they had to fact check... and I would look and see stuff that was completely untrue about myself and go, wow...” (Mariah, 09:20)

• Work Ethic & Burnout

  • Mariah attributes much of the drama in the media to her relentless work ethic and briefly touches on the toll it’s taken.
    • "My main downfall is that I work, like, too much... I work 20 hour days for two months straight, and nobody can do that." (Mariah, 10:02)

• Misconceptions About Her

  • Mariah reflects on the notion that no one can really know a celebrity through media appearances and that misunderstandings are inevitable. She remains grateful for her opportunities despite the rumors.
    • "There will always be misconceptions... I get to sing and write songs and make music... So I'm just grateful for that." (Mariah, 11:36)

Inspiration Behind “Through the Rain”

• Song Story and Message

  • Mariah explains that "Through the Rain" was written during a tumultuous phase in her career as a source of strength for herself and her fans—an affirmation of perseverance and hope.
    • “I wrote it kind of to inspire other people to get through stuff that they were going through... The point of the song, Through the Rain, is you can make it no matter what happens, if you have faith and truly believe that you can.” (Mariah, 12:31 & 13:26)

• Denial of Tabloid Rumors

  • Mariah explicitly denies rumors about suicide attempts:
    • "Don't believe this. Suicide attempts and blah, blah, blah. I'm just not that type of person. No matter what, I always go to the positive..." (Mariah, 13:07)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Public Attention:
  • “I'm not good with saying no to people. I usually try to be little miss, you know, crowd pleaser.” (Mariah, 04:39)
• On Letting Go of False Stories:
  • “Why are you not suing these people? ...You know what? Cause it's not worth it and it'll pass. And like, let it go.” (Mariah, 09:20)
• On the Public’s View of Celebrities:
  • "I'd be watching TV and see some celebrity talking about their woes, and I'd be like, yeah, whatever, you're rich and change the channel." (Mariah, 11:36)
• On Artistic Purpose & Resilience:
  • “That's how I've gotten through my life. I've gone through a lot worse stuff when I was 12 years old than I've been through, you know, at this point in my life.” (Mariah, 13:26)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Mariah Arrives & Sunglasses Comment – 02:32
• Describing a Typical Day – 02:48
• Finding Solitude/Swimming – 03:35
• On Public Attention at the Beach – 03:59
• Being Unable to Say No to Fans – 04:39
• Media Exposure/Constant Cameras – 05:17
• Giving Up Driving – 05:47, 06:08
• Life in New York Post-9/11 – 06:44, 07:42
• Facing Unfair Media Treatment – 08:25, 09:20
• Addressing Misconceptions – 10:02, 11:36
• New Single ‘Through the Rain’ – 12:31
• Refuting Tabloid Suicide Rumors – 13:07
• Mariah’s Farewell – 14:11

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Tone & Authenticity

Mariah remains light, genuine, and often self-deprecating. She speaks with humor about her quirks (letting her driver’s license expire), is honest about pressures from fame, and reveals a steady optimism rooted in her experiences and creative passions.

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Conclusion

This episode is a must-listen for Mariah Carey fans and anyone interested in the realities of modern celebrity. Through humor and candor, Mariah reveals the highs and lows of her career, her philosophy of resilience, and her steadfast gratitude for her artistry and fans. The interview is as relatable as it is revealing—"Through the Rain," indeed.

Transcript

[Jeff Bridges]

Morning Zoe. Got donuts.

[Zoe]

Jeff Bridges why are you still living above our garage?

[Jeff Bridges]

Well I dig the mattress and I want to be in a T mobile commercial like you teach me.

[Zoe]

So Dana oh no, I'm not really prepared. I couldn't possibly at t mobile get the new iPhone 17 Pro on them. It's designed to be the most powerful iPhone yet and has the ultimate pro camera system.

[Jeff Bridges]

Wow, impressive. Let me try. T Mobile is the best place to get iPhone 17 Pro because they've got the best network.

[Mariah Carey]

Nice.

[Zoe]

J free.

[Mariah Carey]

You heard them.

[Jeff Bridges]

T Mobile is the best place to.

[Mariah Carey]

Get the new iPhone 17 Pro on us with eligible traded in any condition.

[Jeff Bridges]

So what are we having for lunch?

[Zoe]

Dude, my work here is done.

[T-Mobile Announcer]

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[Radio Host]

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[Burt (Radio Host)]

Get it the Birch show on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being very calm and 10 being just completely shook up and nervous. When Mariah Carey came to the studio, we were all scared about it because the first time we talked to her, we had to hang up on her. Well, the second time, things were way different. Thanks again for coming in.

[Mariah Carey]

No, it's good to be here. Does any. Will anyone think I'm rude if I put my sunglasses on? Because those are so bright and we didn't have much sleep. Do it at all. I'm trying not to be rude and not have a mom, but then it's like the light. I'm like a night creature.

[Burt (Radio Host)]

Like, what is like the typical. What is like, the typical day and night for Mariah Carey?

[Radio Host]

Like.

[Burt (Radio Host)]

Like. What was yesterday?

[Mariah Carey]

Yesterday I was in Miami. And what were you doing? Meeting. I did, like, a fan event. I met a bunch of different fans that were contest winners, which was really nice. And they came and listened to a couple songs from the album. And, you know, they gave me little books and stuff like that. And. And then I actually got to go swimming, which was a nice thing because that's like my favorite thing. And I had this hotel room totally overlooking the ocean. I was like, if I don't go in that water, I'm gonna hate myself. So I made sure I got up early and went in for a little bit. And then I went to the studio and came. Stayed up and came here.

[Burt (Radio Host)]

How many, like, minutes out of the day does Mariah get to hang out with? Just Mariah.

[Mariah Carey]

Just me.

[Burt (Radio Host)]

Just you. Just doing whatever it is just more.

[Mariah Carey]

Fun when someone else is there.

[Burt (Radio Host)]

I don't know what it is that you like to do just to get away from everything, to balance everything out.

[Mariah Carey]

Actually, that's what I was saying. The swimming thing was really fun.

[Burt (Radio Host)]

Is that it?

[Mariah Carey]

But then it became like, you know, people knew that I was there and it became a different thing. Cause then you gotta be like, if they wanna take a picture of something and your hair is, like, wetting in your eyes, and you know there's seaweed floating by. It's not like a cute moment, but it was all right.

[Burt (Radio Host)]

Are you self. Are you, like, self conscious all the time that people are taking pictures of you and it's gonna end up in some magazine and you just can' yourself on a beach?

[Mariah Carey]

Well, I mean, it's like you go to a crowded beach and people want to take. Usually, like yesterday, I tried to tone it on down and, like, not have, like, an entourage. Just went with my friend and a girl who was there working with me, and then, like, had the. Had the security kind of like front and back, where you couldn't really tell. But I guess it ended up that you could tell because the first person I walk on the beach, I'm like, hey, Mariah, right over there, he's in eighth grade. Can he come swim with you? I'm like, hey, whatever, sure. So we had a good time.

[Burt (Radio Host)]

Is. Is there a time that you can say no to people? Or is that the time where you feel like the one time you say no, somebody's gonna be calling up a radio station and saying, mariah Carey said.

[Mariah Carey]

No to me today, rather than it being like someone calling a radio station. I personally don't. I'm not good with saying no to people. I usually try to be little miss, you know, crowd pleaser.

[Burt (Radio Host)]

See, like, I'm watching you eat your sandwich and I'm watching you drink your Coke and you get the sunglasses on and everything. And I'm wondering, here's the thing about being Mariah Carey, that a guy or a girl like us is never gonna be able to feel like. Is every second of your day calculated? Like, you have to watch what you eat because you have to keep your figure. You have to watch what pictures you're taking because you never know what kind of magazine it's gonna end up in. Is there. It always feel. It must feel so calculated to you.

[Mariah Carey]

It doesn't. It's not that it feels calculated, it's just that, like, just picture this. Like, you walk in somewhere and there's a video camera on you, and you're not expecting it, so you're like, oh, okay, are we filming? And there's a still camera on you, and you're like, alrighty, are we taking a photo? And it's all fine. I just, like, if they let me know, then I'll be in that mode, as opposed to I'm relaxed, hanging out, going to the station and.

[Radio Host]

Yeah, well, I told him not to bring the camera. I was like, give it a break.

[Mariah Carey]

I'm not going to share, you know, but it's fine.

[Radio Host]

Are you ever driving around and you drive past, like, a Wendy's or Pizza Hut or something? You go, man, I want that. But I got a video tomorrow or I got a photo shoot next week.

[Mariah Carey]

I'm never driving around because I let my license expire. And basically, I think people in general are better off with me not behind the wheel, right? Because I'm like, with the radio stations, changing the radio station and the lip gloss and the something, you know, soda. Oh, look at that cute outfit in the store. I'm better off as a passenger, you know what I mean?

[Radio Host]

When's the last time you fully drove yourself around? Like, totally.

[Mariah Carey]

Like, what year is this? 2002. Yeah, I would say, like, 97.

[Burt (Radio Host)]

Is that right?

[Mariah Carey]

Yeah, like, right around the butterfly era, when I used to live up in a place where they were. See, I live in New York, so you don't really drive in New York. People do, but you don't want to drive in New York, right? Like, the cab drivers and everybody. It's like there's no rules on the road. You just basically like renegade car style, you know, messengers on bikes running you over, things of that sort.

[Burt (Radio Host)]

Q100 with Mariah Carey. Do you. Do you still enjoy living in New York even after September 11th last year, even though the city's changed? Of course, a lot?

[Mariah Carey]

Well, you know, being born and raised in New York, that was like, of course, for the world, it was a tragic day. But for me, just personally, it's very strange. Like, I look out my window and my view was the Twin Towers. One of my. I mean, I built the place was like, the apartment where I live was just concrete. It was nothing there. And I kind of designed it with my decorator and figured out what I wanted to do.

[Burt (Radio Host)]

I think we've seen it on cribs.

[Mariah Carey]

You may have seen it there. And so the bathroom was put, you know, so you could see I could lie in the tub. And like, my big thing is, like, I love taking baths. And not that. That's, you know, not standard. Most people like to bathe, but whatever.

[Burt (Radio Host)]

Not the way Mariah care.

[Mariah Carey]

But the view is really beautiful. And now when I look out there, it's just really sad because, I mean, there was nothing there. You were just looking out and I seeing just the firemen there for, like, almost a year. You know, still trying to hose it down and all that.

[Burt (Radio Host)]

Does the city feel different to you now since that happened, or is it your same old New York City?

[Mariah Carey]

It felt different at first. People were actually nicer. You know, I think it got, you know, everyone always has a stereotypical thing about New Yorkers. Don't say hello to you on the street. You're kind of taught, like, when you walk, I mean, I was taught, don't look people in the eye when you're walking down the street when you're in Manhattan alone. Cause I was on my own, living as like a 16 year old, you know, backup singer. Walking around, I would look down, wouldn't look people in the face, you know, mind your own business. And at that point after September 11th, people became very friendly. Like, almost like, whoa, you know, we're all in this together. Like something majorly tragic just happened to our city.

[Burt (Radio Host)]

Sure. So on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being completely fair and 1 being not fair at all.

[Mariah Carey]

Yes.

[Burt (Radio Host)]

How has the media treated you?

[Mariah Carey]

Oh, well, I have a thing with the media where I don't hate the media. I don't group the media together. I don't lump the press together. Everybody has to sell papers and they have to. It's all about ratings and you get a lot better ratings saying, Mariah Carey had her 93rd breakdown today and went to 23 fat farms and, you know, beat some guy up on the street. Then you do saying, oh, we heard Mariah was out with her friends, smiling and having a nice day and sitting in, having lunch at a bistro and, you know, calmly talking to her best friend. Like, I understand and I get it. Do I feel it? I feel I was caught up in a domino effect that, where it was like one person said something, the next person said something, and it all. That's the way it happens with stories. And I have a different perspective on it now. I realize that it's like, I look at real publications like that. Aren't tabloids like one step above a tabloid?

[Burt (Radio Host)]

Is that right?

[Mariah Carey]

Because I would be reading stuff, incredible papers, and go, wait a minute. I used to think that this was actually, you know, they had to fact check and stuff. And I would look and see stuff that was completely untrue about myself and go, wow, this is amazing to me. Like, this actually is completely fabricated. And my friends would be there with me, like, wait a minute, you and me were together. This did not occur. Why are you not suing these people? And I was like, you know what? Cause it's not worth it and it'll pass. And like, let it go.

[Radio Host]

Have you ever been out at a club or something or anything and said and done something and then in the next thought, ben, this is gonna end up in the tabloids. That sucks.

[Mariah Carey]

No, because it didn't used to happen like that to me. Like, I don't know. This year was a totally different thing. There didn't used to be people hiding in bushes and taking pictures of me. I mean, I would have things that happen, but it was never, like, to the degree that this was. And I think once something steamrolls into a big story because they never really had anything to say about. My main downfall is that I work, like, too much. I have this work ethic because I grew up without money, and I never wanted to feel like the rug could be pulled out from under me. And then I worked even harder when different personal changes happened in my life and I just worked myself in the ground. Like, we were talking about eating properly and sleeping, like, you know, Basically, I work 20 hour days for two months straight, and nobody can do that. I don't care who you are. So people think, you know, they see you on TV and you're smiling and you look, you know, yippee. This is an easy life. And, you know, even just from being in radio, it's not all you have to be like, hey, how you doing? 24 hours a day. You're not always happy when you walk in here. You might be in a bad mood, but actually, you guys can get away with being like, I'm in a freaking bad mood today. I can't go on TV and say that. Or they'll be like, mariah was having a breakdown on tv.

[Burt (Radio Host)]

Yeah. What's the biggest misconception about Mariah Carey then?

[Mariah Carey]

I mean, what's oh, there are so many. I don't know.

[Burt (Radio Host)]

What's the one that just gets underneath your skin?

[Radio Host]

I thought you were a lot taller.

[Mariah Carey]

You thought I was taller than I am?

[Radio Host]

Mm. You can't. Yeah, I had you at, like, 7:12.

[Mariah Carey]

Everybody always tells me they think. I'm sorry, are you wearing heels? Well, they're not that high.

[Radio Host]

How tall are you without your heels?

[Mariah Carey]

Five, eight. How tall are you?

[Radio Host]

Five' ten and a half.

[Mariah Carey]

Well, sometimes I'm five' ten and a half.

[Burt (Radio Host)]

Is there what's the one thing that just drives you?

[Mariah Carey]

It just drives you crazy. None of it does'. Cause' Cause you know what I cannot control? What people's misconception. When you don't know somebody, right, you watch somebody on tv, you might be like, oh, I don't like this person, and I'm guilty of it too. Like, I remember before I became a whatever, celebrity, whatever you want to call it, I'd be watching TV and see some celebrity talking about their woes, and I'd be like, yeah, whatever, you're rich and change the channel. You know what I mean? It's like, you know, if you don't know somebody, just look at them on television. Especially if you just See them singing a song, you're not going to know their innermost thoughts or their soul or who they are. So, you know, there's always going to be misconceptions, because I'm even. We could have this talk and you could be like, yeah, she was all right. But, you know, I mean, until you know somebody for a long time, you don't really know them. So there will always be misconceptions. And basically, I get to sing and write songs and make music and do things that I love for a living. So I'm just grateful for that.

[Burt (Radio Host)]

Mariah Carey on the Burt show on Q100. Well, let's talk about reality, then. The new CD and the new single. Tell us all about it.

[Mariah Carey]

Yes, Dee Dee. Okay, well, my new single is called through the Rain, which was inspired. I kind of. I wrote it when I was in between making decisions about what label I was going to go to, where I was going to be, and I just had to separate myself from that whole thing. And I said, let me just go and immerse myself in writing and singing, which has always been my saving grace. Always been the thing that got me through everything from the time I was a baby. So I wrote it, and I wrote it kind of to inspire other people to get through stuff that they were going through. You know what I mean? Because despite how highly dramatized my own stuff was, just the fact that it was being highly dramatized was having an effect on me, as it would anybody.

[Burt (Radio Host)]

Sure.

[Mariah Carey]

So I was getting a lot. You know, my fans were like, oh, you know, nervous and worried about me. And I totally appreciate that because I have this relationship with my fans that's really important to me. And I wanted them to know, like, okay, this is the same person who's always tried to give you hopeful lyrics and this and that. Don't believe this. Suicide attempts and blah, blah, blah. I'm just not that type of person.

[Burt (Radio Host)]

So that stuff's not true. Oh, not true.

[Mariah Carey]

Would you like to inspect my wrist? You can take a magnifying glass. It's like, I am just not that type of person. No matter what, I always go to the positive. And you can look back at any of my music and look at any of the songs where it's like, be hopeful, get through it. Have faith. That's what I'm about. And you can't be that. You know, I couldn't be that much of a contradiction. That's how I've gotten through my life. You know what I mean? I've gone through a lot worse stuff when I was 12 years old than I've been through, you know, at this point in my life. So it's really not that deep. But the point of the song through the Rain is you can make it no matter what happens, if you have faith and truly believe that you can. So that's. I've had a lot of really good reaction from fans and people who just told me that it's already helped them, you know, get through whatever they're going through.

[Burt (Radio Host)]

And we will play that next on Q100. Mariah, thank you for coming in.

[Mariah Carey]

Thank you.

[Burt (Radio Host)]

Thank you so much for stopping by.

[Mariah Carey]

I enjoyed all of you profusely.

[Burt (Radio Host)]

Now go enjoy the rest of your sandwich.

[Mariah Carey]

Okay, thanks.

[Jeff Bridges]

Get it the Bird Show Morning, Zoe. Got donuts.

[Zoe]

Jeff Bridges, why are you still living above our garage?

[Jeff Bridges]

Well, I dig the mattress and I want to be in a T Mobile commercial like you teach me. So.

[Zoe]

Dana oh no, I'm not really prepared. I couldn't possibly at T Mobile get the new iPhone 17 Pro on them. It's designed to be the most powerful iPhone yet and has the ultimate pro camera system.

[Jeff Bridges]

Wow, impressive. Let me try. T Mobile is the best place to get iPhone 17 Pro because they've got the best network.

[Mariah Carey]

Nice.

[Zoe]

Jeffrey, you heard them.

[Jeff Bridges]

T Mobile is the best place to.

[Mariah Carey]

Get the new iPhone 17 Pro on us with eligible traded in any condition.

[Jeff Bridges]

So what are we having for lunch?

[Zoe]

Dude, my work here is done.

[T-Mobile Announcer]

24 monthly build credit is on experience beyond four well qualified customers plus tax and $35 device connection charge credit send and balance due if you pay off earlier. Cancel Finance Agreement. IPhone 17 Pro 256 gigs $1099.99 and new line minimum $100 plus a month plan with auto pay plus taxes and fees required. Best mobile network in the US based on analysis by Ooklab Speed Test Intelligence data 1H 2025 visit t mobile.com Our.

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