How Mariah Carey Found Peace After Painful Dynamic with Late Mom Patricia

Mar. 15, 2025

Mariah Carey and her mom Patricia.Photo:Mariah Carey/Facebook

Mariah Carey and her mom Patricia.

Mariah Carey/Facebook

Mariah Careyand her late motherPatricia Careydidn’t always have the easiest relationship, but the singer found peace in reframing it.

In her 2020 memoirThe Meaning of Mariah Carey, the pop/R&B singer, 55, wrote about how their bond caused her “so much pain and confusion.”

In addressing her family trauma in therapy, Mariah was able to find peace as she redefined it.

“For my sanity and peace of mind, my therapist encouraged me to literally rename and reframe my family,” the “We Belong Together” artist wrote. “My mother became Pat to me, Morgan my ex-brother and Alison my ex-sister … I had to stop expecting them to one day miraculously become the mommy, big brother and big sister I fantasized about.”

Mariah Carey performs at the grand opening of her new exclusive engagement, Mariah Carey: The Celebration of Mimi Live at Dolby Live at Park MGM on April 12, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Denise Truscello/Getty

As Mariah focused on her musical talent, whichbecame a distractionfrom her difficult home life, her mother — a Juilliard-trained opera singer and vocal coach — seemed jealous.

“Having people you love be jealous of you professionally comes with the territory of success, but when the person is your mother and the jealousy is revealed at such a tender age, it’s particularly painful,” she wrote.

In her memoir, Mariah also recalled singing with her mother in the car as a teenager when Patricia allegedly told her, “You should only hope that one day you become half the singer I am.”

″Still, to this day, what she said haunts and hurts me,” the “Emotions” performer recalled.

Despite their differences, Mariah “reserved some room in my heart” for Patricia, even dedicating her memoir to her kids, her ancestors and her mother.

“And to Pat, my mother, who, through it all, I do believe actually did the best she could,” the “Heartbreaker” musician wrote. “I will love you the best I can, always.”

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Mariah Carey and her mom Patricia.Mariah Carey/Instagram

Mariah Carey and her mom

Mariah Carey/Instagram

On Monday, Aug. 26,PEOPLE confirmedthat Mariah’s mom Patricia and sister Alison died on the same day over the weekend.

“My heart is broken that I’ve lost my mother this past weekend. Sadly, in a tragic turn of events, my sister lost her life on the same day,” the Grammy winner said in an exclusive statement to PEOPLE.

She added: “I feel blessed that I was able to spend the last week with my mom before she passed. I appreciate everyone’s love and support and respect for my privacy during this impossible time.”

At the time, no other details, including Patricia and Alison’s causes of death, are known.

source: people.com