Mariah Carey has set the record straight about rumors that she once saw the late Whitney Houston as her biggest rival. The All I Want For Christmas singer spoke candidly about her relationship with Whitney during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen on October 1. Cohen asked if she ever viewed Whitney as her “biggest competition” back in the day, given that both were dominating the charts with hit after hit.
Mariah, now 56, was quick to dismiss the idea. She said the so-called rivalry was never real and came entirely from outside pressure. “It was the people who put us to hate each other,” she explained, adding, “This was the public that kind of pitted us against each other.”
Far from being competitors, Mariah recalled how the two of them actually got on well once they met in person. She described Whitney as funny, down-to-earth, and someone she genuinely enjoyed being around.
Their friendship was sealed with music when they joined forces in 1998 for the powerful duet When You Believe, written for the soundtrack of The Prince of Egypt. The song became one of the standout ballads of the decade and went on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Mariah shared how performing the track with Whitney became one of the most memorable experiences of her career. They first sang it live together on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1998, leaving fans in awe of the powerhouse vocals coming from two of the most celebrated singers of the era.
The following year, they took the stage at the 71st Academy Awards in March 1999, delivering an unforgettable performance that cemented their duet as an iconic moment in music history. Mariah remembered those moments warmly, saying of Whitney, “She was hilarious and just went with it.”
While the media often tried to frame them as rivals, Mariah’s stories painted a very different picture. Rather than being caught up in jealousy or tension, she described a bond marked by laughter, mutual respect, and a shared love of music.
For many fans, the imagined feud between the two divas was part of pop culture gossip in the 90s. But as Mariah’s reflections make clear, the truth was far more uplifting. They weren’t battling for supremacy; they were enjoying each other’s company and creating music that still resonates today.
Whitney Houston’s life was tragically cut short in February 2012 when she accidentally drowned in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton. She was 48. Her legacy as one of the greatest voices of all time continues to inspire, and Mariah’s heartfelt words serve as a reminder of the real person behind the legend.
By opening up about their friendship, Mariah has put an end to years of speculation and shown fans that the supposed rivalry was nothing more than media hype. What really existed was a connection between two women who shared a rare gift and a genuine respect for one another.
