It’s shocking to see Mariah Carey missing out on this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. With 19 songs that once ruled the Billboard Hot 100 chart and multiple wins at the Grammys, her musical legacy speaks for itself. Besides singing, Carey also earned a reputation as a pop culture icon through her brief but notable film career. She starred in Hollywood projects such as Glitter and Precious. So, the versatile artist’s third consecutive HOF snub may frustrate fans, but Carey is not losing sleep over the news.
Mariah Carey speaks up about losing the 2026 HOF induction
On April 16, Mariah Carey arrived at the launch of Blue Book 2026: Hidden Garden in a black sheath dress paired with pointed pumps. After doing her part at the glamorous Tiffany & Co event, Carey invited Variety’s Lindsey Underwood into her green room to discuss both work and personal developments. In fact, she ended up getting candid about her failure to make the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which will take place in November in Los Angeles.
When asked whether her absence from the list of inductees came as a surprise, Carey shared a blunt take.
“I hate answering that question, because the truth is I don’t care,” the 57-year-old singer said. “And that’s my answer. But it’s also—it would be nice to get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, because it’s a legendary thing. So, you know, that could be cool. But when I say I don’t care, it’s because I knew I wasn’t going to get in there this year. I just knew it. And the minute I saw Sade, I was like, ‘She’s in.’ I love Sade.”
Sade is a Nigerian-British singer who formed a namesake music band in 1982. It gained worldwide attention with tracks such as Smooth Operator, and The Sweetest Taboo, among others. Meanwhile, Mariah’s own music career began in 1990, and she soon earned praise for her five-octave vocal range and whistle notes. Carey earned a total of 34 nominations at the Grammys, winning five of them. As of 2026, Carey has released 16 studio albums.
Some of her most popular songs include All I Want for Christmas Is You, Vision of Love, and Fantasy. In 2001, she made her Hollywood debut with Glitter, which is heading for a deluxe reissue on its 25th anniversary. While critics bashed Carey for her monotonous acting, both her performance and soundtrack have garnered a cult following over the years.
“I used to be like, ‘Ugh, Glitter. I can’t,’” Carey said. “I was very against doing anything with Glitter. But now it’s so nostalgic, and people have different opinions and views than they did when it first came out.”
Meanwhile, Carey also earned praise for her cameos and supporting roles in movies such as A Christmas Melody, The Butter, and Precious. While the singer’s snub saddens her fans, she still has a few shows coming up around Christmas to keep the festive spirit alive. Are you excited?
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