Whose in the firing line in Mariah Carey’s new burn book? *Cough* J-LO *Cough*
It’s safe to say that J-LO and Nicki Minaj won’t be buying it
‘Mariah doesn’t have to play nice any more’
Her diva demands and showbiz feuds are as well-documented as her five-octave vocal range, but, according to Mariah Carey, she’s never had the chance to tell her side of the story… until now. As heat told you last week, her upcoming memoir The Meaning Of Mariah Carey is out in September, charting her childhood and 30-year career. And it promises to lay everything bare, with the singer herself excitedly telling fans, “Though there have been countless stories about me – it’s been impossible to communicate the complexities and depths of my experience”.
But while Mariah can’t wait to see the book hit the shelves, we’re told that half of Hollywood is dreading its release – which is unsurprising, considering the many famous people who’ve been embroiled in spats with the legendary diva over the years. We’re looking at you, Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj, Madonna – and pretty much every other chanteuse who’s ever dared to open their mouth and sing. “There are things in the book that could prove really embarrassing to a lot of people,” says an insider close to Mariah, who’s been married and divorced twice – first to music executive and producer Tommy Mottola, then to comedian Nick Cannon, with whom she shares nine-yearold twins Moroccan and Monroe. “Mariah doesn’t have to play nice any more and she’s going for maximum impact and attention. She says there’s enough drama and juicy stories from her personal journey to fill three or four books, and it was a cathartic experience for her to let loose and correct a lot of what’s out there about her – while getting in some sweet revenge along the way.”
If there’s one thing we know, it’s that Mariah isn’t short of adversaries – ranging from exes and rumoured former flings to music rivals. She famously had big beef with Nicki Minaj during their time as judges on American Idol, with Nicki suggesting that Mariah wasn’t happy to share the spotlight. She also reached peak levels of divadom in the early noughties when – asked what she thought of Jennifer Lopez – she famously replied, “I don’t know her.” Then, of course, there’s her long-standing war of words with Eminem, which kicked off in 2002 when she denied the rapper’s claims that they’d dated. These are just some of the many topics that Mariah’s expected to shed light on in her book and, according to our source, she hasn’t held back. “Her feuds and run-ins are legendary, and she’s written about them all,” we’re told. “She’s taken the view that it all needs to be brought into the open, mainly because she’s tired of the many myths that are already out there. If people want to come out and dispute what she’s saying, then bring it on.” ■