Mariah Carey Connected With Princess Diana Through A ‘Brief But Unforgettable Moment’ Before Diana's Passing

Mar 30, 2022 by apost team

Mariah Carey is a legendary singer-songwriter, record producer and actress. She is known for her signature use of the whistle register, her melismatic singing style and her impressive five-octave vocal range. She rose to fame in 1990 with her self-titled debut album. Carey has achieved many accolades and awards, including being the first artist in history to have her first five singles reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The songs were "Hero," "Without You," "All I Want for Christmas is You," "Fantasy," and "Always Be My Baby." 

What many people may not know is that Carey had a connection with Princess Diana. Diana was universally loved by not only the British public but by people the world over. She used her influence to enact good, spending much of her time campaigning for humanitarian causes that improved the lives of others. She sat with people who were ill, helping to break the stigma of the then-new diseases HIV and AIDS. These are just some of the reasons she became known as the "People's Princess," as she was a shining beacon of light in the royal family.

During her life, Diana received plenty of criticism from media outlets and was followed incessantly due to her status as a royal. Carey is a celebrity who is no stranger to the spotlight and has gotten used to the paparazzi following her, especially after her divorces and rumors about her diva behavior circulated. At one point in her career, Carey had a brief encounter with Diana and felt connected to her based on their experiences with the press.

Before her tragic death, Diana was a notable figure due to her status as a royal. However, she faced plenty of criticism in the years following her public divorce from Prince Charles, and the world seemingly turned on her. She was constantly bombarded by the press, who shamed her in their writings. In fact, she had been trying to escape the paparazzi in Paris the night of her death, according to Showbiz CheatSheet.

The Princess of Wales had been on vacation with her partner Dodi Al Fayed. According to the Washington Post, Diana had told her friend Richard Kay that she was going to completely withdraw from public life within the next year, presumably to focus on her private life with Fayed, but unfortunately, that never happened. The two passed away on Aug. 31, 1997, following a tragic car accident.

It was a moment that left the world feeling heartbroken, and people from all over grieved the loss of the princess. In Carey's 2020 memoir "The Meaning of Mariah Carey," the singer called Diana's passing a "death by tabloid," according to Showbiz CheatSheet. Diana's legacy has since been remembered in many ways, including a statue of her that was unveiled by her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, in July 2021.

Carey is another popular figure who has been in the public eye since the late 1990s and went through some situations similar to Diana. She has been through two public divorces over the course of her career. Carey's first marriage was to Tommy Mottola, a Columbia Records executive. They were married from 1993 to 1998. 

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"Back then, you did one thing, and it dominated the press for what seemed like an eternity," Carey said. The singer later went on to date actor and comedian Nick Cannon. The two tied the knot in 2008 but announced their separation in 2014. Their divorce was finalized in 2016.

As someone who was hurt by the constant negative press, Carey looked for ways to move forward and began turning to Diana as an example, according to Showbiz CheatSheet. "I studied how the press hounded her like hyenas," she explained. Carey also had a brief encounter with the princess – something that has stayed with her ever since.

Carey recalled:

"I once had a brief but unforgettable moment with Lady Di when our eyes locked at a Vogue party. She was in a stunning sapphire-colored gown, neck dripping in the same blue gems. And she had that look – the dull terror of never being left alone burning behind her eyes. We were both like cornered animals in couture."

It was a moment that left Carey feeling connected to Diana. "I completely recognized and identified with her," she explained. "We shared that understanding of how it felt always being surrounded by people, all of whom might now be trying to hurt you, but all of whom are trying to do something. They all want something. I didn't know she would be caught and killed shortly after our encounter."

On the surface, many people may not have tied Carey and Diana together, but it's clear that they both had more in common than people realized. It's also evident that her brief encounter with Diana is something that Carey will never forget.

Did you know about Mariah Carey and Princess Diana's brief encounter? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your loved ones.