Mariah Carey’s career has been characterized by storybook ascensions and at least one precipitous fall, after which, as everything seemed to be on the verge of complete collapse, Carey bounced back more successful than ever. The latest chapter of her fairytale life began shortly after her 2014 Christmas concerts. Carey appeared on the Jan. 15 episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show to announce her headlining residency, #1 to Infinity, at The Colosseum inside Caesars Palace. The plot reached a climax this year shortly before Carey returned to Las Vegas in February for another run of residency dates, when the singer became engaged to James Packer and began sporting a 35-carat diamond ring.
Carey joined a pantheon of performers—including Celine Dion, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Cher and Bette Midler—who have headlined the Colosseum for extended runs, when she made her May 6 debut at Caesars Palace. While Las Vegas arguably became for a period of time a place where entertainers cashed in on fading fame, a residency once again means what it did during Vegas’ classic era: The star has achieved permanent legendary status. This couldn’t even be said for Carey after her amazing comeback in 2005, when she rocketed back to the top of the charts with The Emancipation of Mimi and demonstrated she and her octave-spanning voice had staying power to spare.
Ultimately, despite a fan-addicting image that evolved from Long Island homegirl next door to empowered sex symbol and then glamorous chanteuse, it’s Carey’s voice that destined her for long-lasting success. She’s the link between Whitney Houston and Christina Aguilera, but more influential than either, as legions of contestants on American Idol have evidenced. Carey’s range and embrace of melisma, or embellishing syllables by moving between notes in rapid succession, created a blueprint that has endured as an influence on subsequent sub-generations of singers since the release of her self-titled debut in 1990.
The Cinderella part of her story made her part of pop-music mythology. Carey broke into the entertainment business as a backup singer and was mentored by ’80s hitmaker Brenda K. Starr before handing her demo tape to Columbia Records exec Tommy Mottola at an industry gala. Mottola, who later became her first husband, became her patron at Columbia. Carey’s first single from her self-titled debut, “Vision of Love”, hit No. 1 the week of Aug. 4, 1990. It was a position she returned to often during the next 25 years.
Her relationships with Mottola and Columbia Records would not outlast her need to assert herself independently, but that need came with a price. Her 2001 film debut Glitter and accompanying soundtrack bombed, causing Virgin Records to buy out her nine-figure contract for a mere $50 million. Mimi re-established Carey, and set the stage for the career-spanning production created for Caesars. The backup singer that had to overcome stage fright when she became a star now comfortably owns the stage, directs her own career, and found her Prince Charming with an inestimable amount of pages left to turn in her storybook career.
Caesars Palace, 8 p.m. Feb. 14, 17 & 19-20, $55-$250 plus tax and fee. 866.320.9763
