Fox is once again betting on an
aging superstar diva to revitalize “American Idol.”
One
of the most commercially successful pop performers of the 1990s, vocalist
Mariah Carey was the third child of black/Hispanic aeronautical engineer Alfred
Carey and Irish opera singer/voice coach Patricia Hickey -- a mix that made her
the target of persistent racial prejudice throughout her childhood. The
hostility against mixed marriages still persisting in New York at the time
ultimately brought about her parents' divorce in the early 70s, putting Hickey
in the position of having to keep multiple jobs in order to support her
children on her own. By the age of 3, Mariah had already begun to show an
enthusiasm for singing, and would sometimes accompany her mother while she
rehearsed; taking note of her daughter's interest, Hickey initiated her vocal
training soon afterwards. Singing quickly became the center of the young
Mariah's existence. Her first public performance took place at the age of 6,
and her schoolwork went largely ignored in favor of anything that could further
her dream of becoming a star.
Mariah Carey, who in her heyday was
one of the most popular singers on the planet, has been tapped to replace
Jennifer Lopez as a judge on the musical talent show.
In a moment
of faux drama, Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly called the pop star
Monday on his phone during the Television Critics Assn. press tour in Beverly
Hills to share the news with television journalists.
“I think
it’s the biggest recording artist that any of these shows have ever had,” said
Reilly.
Carey, who
is wrapping up production on her latest album, said she can’t wait to join the
show.
“It’s going
to be fun,” she said, adding that it will be rewarding to “help find new talent
and give back with ‘American Idol.’”
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