Summary
Mariah Carey has demonstrated that she has a range all her own. Though Carey can now be seen as a judge on TV's American Idol, this powerful, petite songstress with a vocal range of more than seven octaves has been in the music business for more than 20 years. Her albums have sold more than 200 million copies worldwide, and she holds the records for the most number one singles in the United States with 18. The daughter of an opera singer, Carey knew by the seventh grade that she, too, wanted a career as a singer. After giving her demo tape of songs to a Columbia Records executive at a party, Carey was signed to a contract with the company. With hits like "Dreamlover," "All I Want for Christmas Is You," and "One Sweet Day," Carey has used her distinctive voice to tackle a range of musical styles. Despite a disastrous film debut in Glitter in 2001, Carey redeemed her film credibility with her role in the Oscar-winning film Precious in 2009. Read in Mariah Carey about this soulful singer's lasting success.