Mariah Carey doesn't show up for longtime collaborator
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Every year without fail, "All I want for Christmas" produces a lot of income for Mariah Carey. Her new records don't sell, but "All I Want" is a perennial. So are "Hero", and "One Sweet Day", which she sang with Boyz II Men.
All those songs were written by Walter Afanasieff, her longtime collaborator and producer. Afansieff was honored by the Songwriters Hall of Fame last night in New York. Guess who didn't show up, forget about perform? Mariah Carey.
Maybe Mariah was upset because she was inducted into the SHOF in 2022, when a lot of people including this column pointed to Afanasieff as the true composer of her hits. Or maybe she doesn't like splitting royalties with him.
Mariah's absence reminds me of when Madonna didn't mention any of her collaborators when she was inducted into the SHOF. She also didn't show up Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, writers of "Like a Virgin", when it was their turn.
Where could Mariah have been last night? She's not on tour, and she's not recording anything vital. She showed up recently at an event for the Gucci cruise line, but of course she was paid to sing - and not well - for the fashion company.
Walter deserved better. Instead, the SHOF was only able to come up with a singer named Shelea, who seems nice but no one knows.
(Showbiz411)
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T from USA wrote:
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It's a shame it had to end the way it did with them. Even one song between them on each of her albums after Glitter would've been really great. I will always wonder what Charmbracelet would've been like with Walter producing the ballads. I think it would've been another Butterfly classic tbh. Her voice does grace a song of his in 2025 but again her voice isn't nearly as strong as it was during the Walter years so maybe there's that too. She probably can't sing the classical music he produces.
(Sunday 14 June 2026; 16:24)
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Scott from USA wrote:
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What a ridiculous article. ShowBiz411 is mostly just a gossip column, so I guess it's their prerogative to stir up drama. But here is the truth: First, Mariah and Walter had a falling out a long time ago because he sold her out to her ex-husband during their divorce. If he had been interested in continuing their successful collaboration, he should have supported her during that time. Instead, he hedged his bets that Tommy would be the star to hook his wagon to and Mariah would fail without Tommy's support. Well, who's still around 30 years later? Tommy is disgraced and Mariah continues to be a relevant influence in the music industry. Walter made the wrong choice and ShowBiz411 wants to make it sound like Mariah is the disloyal one? We know better. Secondly, they assert that Walter is the "true composer" of her hits. That's not an accurate assessment. Walter is a talented musician and songwriter for sure - but his process with Mariah is well documented. She created the melodies and lyrics, and Walter helped her put what she heard in her head on "paper". He is a talented pianist and Mariah doesn't play, so she needed him to help her flesh out her ideas. But he is not the "true composer" of her hits. A collaborator, for sure, but the melodies and lyrics are entirely hers. The truth is that Mariah is a superstar who continued to have great success for decades after her collaboration with Walter ended. If he was the reason for her success, we wouldn't have songs like "Heartbreaker", "We Belong Together", "Touch My Body", or "#Beautiful". Who are the other superstars that Walter had success with? Savage Garden, anyone? Please.
(Tuesday 16 June 2026; 14:28)
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SALLYELAMBBY from USA wrote:
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Ew this was worded so shadily and awkward lol.
(Saturday 27 June 2026; 18:52)
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