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Los Angeles was buzzing last Friday night as music’s elite gathered at the Los Angeles Convention Center for the annual MusiCares Person of the Year gala, this time honoring the one and only Mariah Carey. And let’s just say, the evening was full of surprises, even for the queen herself!
Carey, positioned near the stage, became an unwitting star of the show when a live auction took an unexpected turn. A “meet-and-greet” with the legendary singer in Abu Dhabi was put on the block, and her genuinely surprised reaction, beamed onto multiple screens, was priceless. Even a superstar can be caught off guard!
While Carey herself only graced the microphone for a brief moment at the end of the night, observing her real-time reactions to the parade of performers was arguably the highlight. A slew of artists paid tribute by performing her iconic hits and a few deep cuts, much to her visible delight.
The evening was a masterclass in musical appreciation. Jennifer Hudson’s powerful rendition of “Vision of Love” earned a look of true recognition from Carey.
A tender smile crossed her face as her longtime friend Busta Rhymes performed their collaboration, “I Know What You Want.” And the slow dawning realization that heavily tattooed singer Teddy Swims was absolutely nailing “Without You” was a joy to behold.
Swims, after his performance, humorously admitted, “That was terrifying,” acknowledging the formidable legacy of the power ballad.
Perhaps the most unexpected and thrilling moment came when Foo Fighters and Taylor Momsen tore through tracks from “Chick,” the cult-favorite grunge album Carey secretly recorded in the mid-90s. Watching Carey proudly sing along to her alter ego’s music was a truly special moment.
Other notable performances included Adam Lambert’s moody “Can’t Let Go,” the airy “Dreamlover” by British girl group Flo, and Laufey’s careful rendition of “It’s Like That.” Billy Porter, in true fashion, took “Always Be My Baby” to the extreme with his wild vocal runs, making up in sheer volume what they might have lacked in precision.
As the night drew to a close, Carey took the stage to express her gratitude to the “friendly and familiar faces” in the audience, including those she’d “never thought I’d see again.” Following her heartfelt speech, Jon Batiste led a star-studded, albeit random, ensemble including Charlie Puth, Gayle King, and Rita Wilson, in a grand finale of “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” a track that recently made history by setting a new record for weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100. Carey, ever the queen, looked pleased (mostly) by the impromptu singalong.