Mariah Carey’s secret grunge album part of tribute at MusiCares event

Mariah Carey has blended pop, R&B, gospel and hip-hop into hit songs over five decades. But it was hearing a couple of cuts off her 1990s secret grunge album that had the superstar on her feet clapping.

All about Mariah Carey’s secret grunge album

Foo Fighters blasted through Someone's Ugly Daughter with Taylor Momsen on lead vocals. They followed up with Love is a Scam as Carey sang along from her front table.

Carey was honored for her musical achievements and philanthropic efforts as MusiCares Person of the Year on Friday night, two days before the Grammy Awards. The award is given in the week ahead of the Grammys by MusiCares, a charity that supports musicians in need.

“She is one of one,” longtime collaborator Babyface said. “Mariah, you are every songwriter and producer’s dream. You strike a lot of gold. You are a blueprint of a great songwriter.”

Back in 1995, Carey secretly recorded and co-produced the grunge album Someone’s Ugly Daughter with her friend Clarissa Dane under the name Chick. It wasn’t until her 2020 memoir that Carey revealed she was behind the project, singing background vocals while Dane handled lead.

Of all the songs performed at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Carey seemed to enjoy Foo Fighters’ blast from the past the most.

Stevie Wonder didn’t perform, but he took the stage to tell Carey, “The greatest thing about you and I is we have respect and love for each other.” Grammy nominee Teddy Swims tackled Without You, the Harry Nilsson power ballad that Carey took to No. 1 in 1994. “That was really terrifying,” he said.

British girl group Flo harmonized on Dream Lover, Billy Porter lent his unique interpretation to Always Be My Baby and Jennifer Hudson opened with I Don’t Wanna Cry before segueing into Vision of Love. Surprise guest Busta Rhymes teamed with Chanté Moore and Spliff Star to perform I Know What You Want.

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