Mariah Carey has a simple explanation for why she’s been nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three consecutive times, but hasn’t yet been inducted: “Haters,” she tells Variety, letting out a giggle. “No, I’m kidding. You know what it is? I don’t know the answers. It’s just a thing where this is something that I never thought about. It’s something that I just now I’m like, wow, this is incredible.”
Though an induction has been, shall we say, elusive, Carey becoming a three-peat nominee is no small feat, and this year she once again joins an illustrious group of artists on the long list for the Class of 2026. She was first nominated in 2024, nearly a decade after she became eligible, and then again in 2025. Last month, she was included once more, this time among artists including Lauryn Hill, Shakira, Phil Collins, Wu-Tang Clan, Luther Vandross, Pink, Jeff Buckley and many more.
But she isn’t overhyping it. Carey has already notched a few milestones this year, including a performance at the Winter Olympics and a star-studded tribute to her during Grammy Week as MusiCares’ Person of the Year. Throughout the evening, musicians like Jennifer Hudson, Adam Lambert and Charlie Puth gave powerful renditions of her hits, and there was even a surprise for the mega-Lambs in attendance: a performance from Foo Fighters and Taylor Momsen, who ran through songs from her unreleased grunge album “Someone’s Ugly Daughter” by the band Chick.
As Hall of Fame voters cast their ballots ahead of an April announcement, Carey spoke with Variety about plans to ultimately release “Someone’s Ugly Daughter,” what we can expect around the 25th anniversary of “Glitter” later this year and, of course, what it means to be a repeat offender among the 2026 Hall of Fame nominees.
It’s amazing. I mean, there’s just something that you can’t explain, and it’s really, really great.
Well, I mean, it would be fantastic, but I’m just like… Pftt. You know, if it happens, it happens. And if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. But I think it would be amazing.
It’s hard to have expectations. So when I’m sitting here being like, oh, am I gonna get this award? Sometimes I’m just like, nah, because I don’t know. I never really believe it’s gonna happen until it does happen.
The best. Thing. Ever. It was the best thing ever. Oh my gosh, I was sitting there so excited. You have no idea. I was flipping out.
No, they were doing a great job. I’ll always have incredible memories of watching the Foo Fighters perform Chick. Like, it’s just such an amazing thing. It was one of the best things I’ve ever experienced.
Well, I want to have this happen, but you know, I gotta wait.
[Laughs] I don’t know. I just literally have to wait a minute and put it out. And I’m going to do it. I’m going to do it. It’s just, you know, a whole thing.
Plans for a deluxe and a reissue, or maybe just one, I don’t know. We’re getting on top of it. I’m excited about it.
Actually, it really would. No, we were just talking about it today. I really think it could be a moment.
I used to hate it. I used to be so like, why did I do that? And then, you know, it became something that I really loved and it just sort of took on its own thing.
Because it was a disastrous flop. [Laughs]
Yeah, no, it did. But it was just a tough time for me.
I’m definitely recording new music and I’m very excited about it. And yeah, I’m kind of like always recording new music, but I hope it will do well and people will like it. But yeah, new music.
When I say that people get upset with me. [Laughs]
