Cultural impact of Mariah Carey

Widely considered one of the greatest singers in the history of popular music, Mariah Carey has affected popular culture and the music industry in various ways. Her rise to success as a multiracial American helped break barriers in the music industry and in popular culture; media scrutiny and her public responses facilitated emerging public conversations about multiracialism and representation.

Carey is a pioneer in melisma and the whistle register. She was among the first artists to merge hip-hop with pop, through her collaborations and remixes, notably with "Fantasy" featuring Ol' Dirty Bastard. Her career, noted for its longevity, has influenced and inspired artists on American Idol and worldwide. Her music has been recorded, performed, and sampled by various acts. She has received several honors and tributes.

Carey has been commercially successful and well-received by music critics. In the United States, she has broken several Billboard records, including most number-one singles by a solo artist (19), and has spent 93 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. She has also broken records internationally. Dubbed the "Queen of Christmas”, Carey's 1994 album Merry Christmas is the best-selling Christmas album of all time in the U.S.