Since Mariah Carey hit the scene in 1990, she has proved time and time again why she is the Songbird Supreme. Over the past three decades, the pop diva has had a whopping 19 singles reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the most for any solo artist. (The Beatles hold the all-time record with 20.)
Carey, who grew up on Long Island, New York, signed with Columbia Records in December 1988 and released her self-titled debut album the following June. It spawned four No. 1s: "Vision of Love", "Love Takes Time", "Someday" and "I Don't Wanna Cry". She continued to top the charts with 1991's Emotions and 1993's Music Box before releasing what is now the bestselling holiday album of all time, Merry Christmas, in 1994.
The Grammy winner released three more studio albums in the late '90s, but her star power began to fade in the early 2000s as she dealt with a number of personal and professional issues. However, she came back with a vengeance in 2005 when she dropped her comeback album, The Emancipation of Mimi, which had two more No. 1 singles: "We Belong Together" and "Don't Forget About Us". Three years later, she shot to the top again with "Touch My Body".
Carey has continued to release new music ever since, with a total of 15 studio albums under her belt. She has also maintained her status as the Queen of Christmas, with her megahit "All I Want for Christmas Is You" climbing the charts each year since its release and finally reaching No. 1 in 2019.
In honor of the entertainer's illustrious, record-breaking career thus far, Us Weekly ranked all of her No. 1 singles from "Vision of Love" to "Touch My Body".
19. "Thank God I Found You" (feat. Joe & 98 Degrees) (2000)
The success of this power ballad featuring the R&B crooner and the boy band has long been a mystery to fans and critics alike. Sure, the lyrics are sentimental, but the melodramatic production lacks the magic that made the other collaborations in Carey's discography so special.
18. "Touch My Body" (2008)
Carey tried her hand at making a comical (and risqué!) track here but came up short. Although the undeniably catchy midtempo still managed to top the Hot 100, some listeners couldn't help but laugh - for all the wrong reasons - at Carey speak-singing her way through lyrics like, "If there's a camera up in here, then I best not catch this flick on YouTube."
17. "Heartbreaker" (feat. Jay-Z) (1999)
When Carey teamed up with the legendary rapper for this Rainbow single, fans expected a surefire hit. Instead, they got a passable knockoff of 1995's "Fantasy". Even Jay-Z's verse leaves much to be desired, most infamously when he rhymes "crib" with, well, "crib".
16. "Don't Forget About Us" (2005)
Carey was on top of the world in the mid-aughts thanks to The Emancipation of Mimi, her most triumphant album in years. When she reissued the project seven months after its initial release, she tacked on this lovelorn and breathy midtempo, which climaxes with an effortless 13-second note that only she could hit.
15. "My All" (1998)
After finding success with hip-hop-driven radio hits, Carey returned to her early-‘90s sound with a Latin twist. The vocals on "My All" are some of her strongest to date, with the ballad drawing comparisons to Toni Braxton's "Un-Break My Heart" and Journey's "Open Arms", the latter of which Carey covered three years prior.
14. "I Don't Wanna Cry" (1991)
This single off Carey's debut album often gets lost in the shuffle of the similarly structured "Vision of Love" and "Love Takes Time", but its tearjerkingly beautiful lyrics help set it apart from the pack. It may require a second listen to avoid being forgotten, but it's time well spent.
13. "Love Takes Time" (1990)
Fun fact: This healing and melodic ballad almost didn't make the cut for Carey's debut as she recorded it after completing the album. Fortunately, she made it in the nick of time, treating fans to what has since become a staple in her catalog for good reason.
12. "Someday" (1991)
Carey's first upbeat single is highly underrated; the diva herself has even curled her lip at the finished product, stating that it sounds too polished in comparison to the demo. That said, its new jack swing vibe perfectly compliments Carey's joyous and timeless vocals.
11. "I'll Be There" (feat. Trey Lorenz) (1992)
Carey's soulful cover of the Jackson 5's 1970 single was the hit no one saw coming. Recorded during her MTV Unplugged special, Carey is the Michael Jackson to her backup singer Lorenz's Jermaine Jackson, transforming the romantic track into her very own.
10. "Dreamlover" (1993)
Carey lets loose on this fun-loving, breezy R&B number that kicked off her Music Box era and took over MTV in the summer of '93 with its flowery music video. It's a breath of fresh air in a field of belty ballads.
9. "Honey" (1997)
For Carey's first release after her split from music executive Tommy Mottola, she turned to Sean "Diddy" Combs and, in turn, paved the way for a completely new sound. This uptempo jam, with its irresistible chorus and airy R&B melody, helped redefine her career as a genre-shifting powerhouse.
8. "Emotions" (1991)
Carey had disco on the brain when she recorded this anthem with the iconic C+C Music Factory. For four minutes straight, she sings like her life depends on it, showcasing her iconic whistle register like never before and proving why she is one of the greatest vocalists of all time.
7. "One Sweet Day" (feat. Boyz II Men) (1995)
This harmony-filled, goosebump-inducing ballad about the death of a loved one pairs two of the greatest acts of the ‘90s. With 16 weeks at No. 1, the song became the longest-running chart-topper in the history of the Billboard Hot 100. Carey and Boyz II Men held the record until 2019, when Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus' "Old Town Road" rode its way to the top.
6. "Vision of Love" (1990)
Carey came in with a bang when she dropped her debut single. Her unreal high notes seemed otherworldly at a time when pop stars such as Paula Abdul, Madonna and Janet Jackson reigned supreme, introducing the music industry to a whole ‘nother level of talent.
5. "We Belong Together" (2005)
Some critics brushed Carey aside after her 2001 movie, Glitter, flopped, but she proved just four years later that she still had it with this simple yet elegant number. Its simple piano arrangement was a true return to form, packaging together everything fans have grown to adore about Carey over the years.
4. "Hero" (1993)
This powerful ballad defined Carey's career early on and has since become a key component of her live shows. From the very first line ("There's a hero if you look inside your heart") to the Celine Dion-esque, chest-pounding triumph of a bridge ("Lord knows!"), it's hard to imagine the song ever fading away.
3. "Always Be My Baby" (1996)
Carey continued to dominate the mid-‘90s with his feel-good love song and its oh-so catchy "doo-doo-doo dow" hook. It was her first of many future collaborations with songwriter Jermaine Dupri, leading to one of the strongest partnerships in modern-day music.
2. "Fantasy" (1995)
It doesn't get much better than this summery blend of R&B, dance, bubblegum pop and hip-hop - well, at least not until Ol' Dirty Bastard hopped on the infectious remix. "Fantasy", which samples Tom Tom Club's "Genius of Love", sounds as satisfying in 2020 as it did 15 years ago.
1. "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (1994)
They don't call her the Queen of Christmas for nothing. Every December since its release, Carey's holiday standard has been played on loop at shopping malls around the globe - and rightfully so. It may have taken 25 years to reach No. 1, but at least the festive track finally ended up where it belongs.
(Us Weekly)
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