The Stars Come Out

From the best-selling female artist of all time to a Latin music heartthrob, the line-up for this year’s Emirates Airline Dubai Jazz Festival is eclectic

In a career spanning more than 25 years, Mariah Carey has gone through multiple transformations; ’90s darling, noughties diva, comeback queen and reality TV star, to name a few. Over time, she’s become as famous for her offstage antics as her ability to hit those high notes – so much so that it’s easy to forger her star quality.

In a career marked by ups and downs, rocky relationships and label woes, Carey has persevered. Since her 1990 self titled debut album, the girl with the golden voice has won five Grammys and 32 Billboard Music Awards, sold over 200 million records and had more No.1 hits than any other solo artist. She went from starring in 2001’s terrible Glitter movie to winning a Breakthrough Performance Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival for her role in the Oscar-winning Precious in 2009. And in 2005, when most people had already labeled Carey a has-been, she released the award-winning and aptly named album The Emancipation of Mimi. Plus, is there any other artist whose Christmas hit – All I Want For Christmas Is You – gets rinsed so much every December?

It’s 14 years since Mariah made her Dubai debut and, despite her somewhat awkward start to the New Year in New York’s Times Square, UAE fans will no doubt flock to see her perform at the Jazz Fest.

THE HIGHS

1990