There’s been a lot of reminiscing going on by Mariah Carey, even though the “elusive chanteuse” is still very coy about celebrating her “real age.” As she prepares to release her memoirs this month, celebrating over 30 years in the music business, a bevy of names are being dragged back into the light – including baseball star Derek Jeter.
Titled The Meaning of Mariah Carey, is set to be released on September 29th, and the diva told her fans aka “Lambs” that the book discusses “my mishaps, my struggles, my survival and my songs. Unfiltered.” Anticipation is high for the book, which will be released through Andy Cohen of Bravo fame’s book imprint.
Mariah’s been also riling up her old exes, as with any memoir, people being to wonder what will be included about them. First was Eminem, whose brief, troubled relationship with Carey was the stuff of diss records, music videos and more.
As we’ve gotten closer to the release of her anticipated book, Mariah’s starting to give a bit more insight into what readers can expect – while also being Mariah, casting shade and generally finding more of her voice some 30 years into her career.
Sitting down for a profile with Vulture, Mariah talks about how she hasn’t said nearly all that she could in her book – including about the fling with Eminem. Mariah says that Em doesn’t have to worry.
“There’s some songs that I can sing in response to that, but I will not do it.” She also added, “If somebody or something didn’t pertain to the actual meaning of Mariah Carey, as is the title, then they aren’t in the book.”
While they may not be in the book, there’s one ex that Mariah herself shared with Vulture that’s made it into at least two of her hit songs, which are also personal favorites, “The Roof” and “My All.”
Mariah’s marriage to Tommy Mottola is one that many know she refers to as spending time in “Sing Sing,” as Mottola’s house became to be called by Carey. Their marriage, while filled with professional successes for the both of them, left Carey abused and trapped, unable to find her own autonomy in a marriage to the man who was also in charge of her career.
However, Mariah told Vulture that towards the end of her marriage to Mottola, she met baseball star Jeter at a dinner party and shortly afterwards, they began secretly texting. The former Yankee player dated Carey from 1996-1998 and it was one of his first high-profile relationships.
According to Mariah, her and Jeter shared a “clandestine kiss” finally, after all the texting, on the top of his apartment building one night.
“I can never forget that moment,” she said. “I mean, it’s not like it was some intensely deep, intellectually stimulating — again, it was a great moment, and it happened in a divine way because it helped me get past living there, in Sing Sing, under those rules and regulations.”
Being that they kissed on the roof, that’s what led to the song “The Roof.”
As for “My All,” the other song that Carey said was about Jeter? The lyrics of the song read, “I’d risk my life to feel your body next to mine,” and Carey admits that the song was about her risking her life to spend a night with Jeter.
The Meaning of Mariah Carey hits stores September 29th, 2020.