Mariah Carey Opens Up About Her Estranged Family and 'Coping' With Nick Cannon: 'You Have to Laugh or You'll Cry'

Mariah Carey, the Grammy-winning icon, has revealed how humour helped her navigate some of the most painful chapters of her life—namely her former marriage to Tommy Mottola and the complexities of co-parenting with ex-husband Nick Cannon.

In the September 2025 issue of Harper's Bazaar UK, Carey opened up about trauma, healing and the power of resilience, crediting laughter as her emotional lifeline.

She shared that after losing both her mother and sister, and while dealing with ongoing co-parenting challenges, she made a conscious decision to lean into humour.

As she put it: 'You have to laugh or you'll cry.'

Carey Reflects on Mottola Marre and Co-Parenting With Cannon

Carey looked back on her 1993–1998 marriage to music executive Tommy Mottola, describing it as both creatively and emotionally stifling. She referred to their Bedford, New York mansion as a 'gilded prison' and said it was a period she has tried to stop publicly revisiting.

'Humour is my release ... otherwise I could make every day a sob story,' she explained.

She also discussed her relationship with Nick Cannon. Despite their separation, the two remain united in grief and committed to raising their twins, Moroccan and Monroe. Carey emphasised the role humour plays in managing the emotional complexity of their co-parenting relationship.

'Even in the darkest moments, there's something absurd enough to help you get through it,' she said.

Published in Harper's Bazaar UK Ahead of New Album Release

These reflections appear in the September 2025 issue of Harper's Bazaar UK, released in late July. The interview coincides with the upcoming launch of Carey's new album Here for It All, scheduled for release on 26 September. The timing offers added context to her emotional and creative evolution.

Family, Fame and the Lasting Impact of Early Industry Experience

Carey's comments centre on two significant figures in her life: her ex-husband and former record executive Tommy Mottola, and her ex-partner Nick Cannon, the father of her twins. While she refrained from delving into her marriage to Mottola in detail, she acknowledged its lasting impact. Cannon, for his part, has publicly praised her strength and remains a co-parenting partner.

She also addressed how her early years in the music industry shaped her emotionally, calling them both formative and difficult. These experiences, she said, now inform how she guides her children as they grow up in the public eye.

Healing Through Humour and Shared Parenthood

Carey's relationship with Mottola, whom she claims restricted her independence and creativity, is a chapter she said she has made peace with—though traces of anger remain. She uses humour to manage those lingering emotions and deflect further harm.

In discussing her bond with Cannon, she highlighted their shared grief and their ongoing collaboration in supporting their children. The stability she has found in parenting Moroccan and Monroe, she noted, has helped her move forward, rooted in love, loss and resilience.

An Honest Voice in the Conversation on Trauma and Healing

Carey's candid reflections stand out in a celebrity culture often dominated by surface-level interviews. Her willingness to speak about family pain, emotional trauma and healing through laughter adds a human layer to her public persona.

She also offered words of encouragement to others navigating difficult family relationships. 'We all carry our history, but we don't have to be held hostage by it,' she said.

Public Reaction and Emotional Resonance

The public response to the interview has been largely positive. Many praised Carey's honesty and vulnerability, with industry insiders calling her ability to channel heartbreak into creative power a mark of her enduring relevance.

Looking Ahead With New Music and Renewed Purpose

With her new album Here for It All on the horizon, Carey appears ready to embrace a new chapter rooted in personal empowerment and artistic clarity. The record is expected to blend autobiographical themes with vintage R&B sounds, echoing the emotional maturity reflected in her recent comments.