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Why Mariah Carey Only Has Five Grammys: A Deeper Dive into the Icon’s Relationship with the Awards
Oct
Mariah Carey’s Stellar Career and the Grammy Conundrum
Mariah Carey’s career is filled with monumental successes—19 number-one hits, over 200 million records sold worldwide, and recognition as one of the most influential voices in music. Despite her success, Carey holds only five Grammy Awards, a number many fans and critics find surprisingly low given her influence. This paradox has sparked discussions on how the Grammys have treated Carey over the years, considering her career-long contributions to pop and R&B.
Early Success and Grammy Recognition
When Carey burst onto the scene in 1990 with her debut album, she was instantly met with acclaim. Her first single, “Vision of Love,” earned her two Grammys in 1991, including Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female. Many believed that Carey was on a trajectory to dominate future Grammy ceremonies. However, her rapid commercial success in the 1990s did not translate into consistent Grammy recognition.
The 1990s: A Decade of Overlooked Masterpieces
The 1990s marked an era of groundbreaking releases for Carey, including albums like Daydream and Butterfly, which are considered among her finest works. Despite her chart dominance with singles like “Fantasy” and “Always Be My Baby,” she consistently missed out on major Grammy categories. The absence of Grammy wins for these monumental releases became glaring to her fans, and Carey herself alluded to the frustration of being “toyed with” by the Recording Academy.
2006: The Emancipation of Mimi and Grammy Redemption?
After a brief career lull, Carey’s 2005 album The Emancipation of Mimi marked her grand comeback. The album was a commercial and critical triumph, earning her eight Grammy nominations in 2006. While Carey did win three awards, including Best Contemporary R&B Album, she lost the more coveted categories of Record and Album of the Year, once again prompting questions about the Academy’s recognition of her legacy.
Mariah’s Perspective: Grammys and Industry Politics
Carey’s outlook on her Grammy count is straightforward: she believes the industry has underappreciated her. In various interviews, including a recent podcast appearance, she joked about being “scammed” and noted how her most celebrated works, such as Butterfly, received little recognition. She has acknowledged that politics within the industry, and possibly biases, have played a role in her relatively low Grammy count, which remains a point of contention among her fans.
From torunstyle