Mariah Carey on Rock Hall Nomination: “I Don’t Want to Get Too Excited About It”

The music icon reflects on her surprise nomination, her late mother’s influence, and future plans—from long-lost grunge tracks to possible collaborations with her children.

Mariah Carey is treading lightly when it comes to her latest honor: a nomination for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The multi-platinum singer and global superstar, whose voice has defined pop and R&B for over three decades, opened up in a recent interview about the nomination, her thoughts on genre, and her plans for new music. Despite her legendary status and undeniable impact on the music industry, Carey remains both grounded and grateful.

“That’s a huge honor. I don’t know if I’m going to win it, so I don’t want to get too excited about it,” she told the Associated Press. “I wasn’t really thinking about it. And here we are.”

Carey, 56, was first nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024 but was not selected. She’s back on the 2025 slate, alongside iconic names like Cyndi Lauper, Billy Idol, Joe Cocker, Chubby Checker, OutKast, and Oasis. The official list of inductees will be revealed later this month, with the induction ceremony scheduled for this fall in Los Angeles.

Genre-Bending Legacy

Despite the Rock Hall’s traditional focus on rock and roll, Carey doesn’t believe genre lines matter as much today.

“I don’t really know if genre matters,” she said. “People are more open to all different genres now… but I feel like a rock star sometimes.”

Indeed, her genre-defying career has made her a household name across pop, R&B, hip-hop, and soul. With an astonishing vocal range and chart-topping hits like “Vision of Love,” “Hero,” and “We Belong Together,” Carey has more than earned her place among the greats.

An Icon Honoring Her Roots

Carey recently accepted the prestigious Icon Award at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards, where she took a heartfelt moment to honor her late mother, Patricia Carey, who passed away in August.

“On this Saint Patrick’s Day, I want to honor my mother Patricia Carey for giving me the gift of music,” she said during her acceptance speech. “Even now I still get excited when I hear one of my songs playing on the radio. It never stops being magical.”

Her speech was laced with humor and nostalgia:

“Now, for those of you who may not know what airwaves are, think of it as the non-WiFi version of streaming, OK?”

Looking Ahead: Grunge, Twins, and New Music

While Carey is cautious about what’s next, she couldn’t hide her excitement for upcoming projects. She revealed she’s still interested in releasing her unreleased grunge album from the 1990s—an unexpected chapter of her career that has intrigued fans for years.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to pull it together by the summer, but maybe I’ll release a few songs from it,” she teased. “I already have so many ideas for videos.”

Additionally, she shared the possibility of collaborating with her 13-year-old twins, Monroe and Moroccan, who joined her onstage during her 2023 Christmas Time tour.

“I would love to [put out an album with them],” she said. “They just have a lot of their own things that they’re doing, and I don’t want to force them.”

And though she’s keeping details close, Carey confirmed she’s working on something fresh:

“I’m not supposed to talk about new music, but yes—I’m working on something new.”

A Humble Superstar Still Dreaming Big

Despite being one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with five Grammy Awards and 19 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, Mariah Carey still speaks with the awe of someone just starting out.

Whether she’s inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year or not, one thing is certain: Mariah Carey’s legacy continues to evolve—with humility, brilliance, and an ever-present sense of wonder.