In 1991, her album Emotions reached number four on the Billboard 200. Many critics believed that this helped Carey's musical career. Mottola was the executive producer for Carey. Carey married Tommy Mottola, the head of Sony Music, in 1993. This means that 9 million copies of the album were shipped in the US.

It reached number one on the US Billboard 200. Four singles from the album all reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart (' Vision of Love', ' Love Takes Time', 'Someday', and 'I Don't Wanna Cry'). The album was certified multi-platinum by the RIAA. She released her self-titled debut studio album in 1990. In December 1988, Carey started making her first album. She practiced playing piano when she was a young girl.

Her father was of African American and Venezuelan ancestry and her mother is of Irish ancestry. Mariah Carey was born on March 27, 1969, in Huntington, New York.