Patricia Carey is the mother of world music sensation Mariah Carey. She has played a big role in her daughter’s life and profession. She was named Patricia Hickey by her parents. She got success in her profession as an opera singer and vocal coach and she got recognition for her strong musical background and motivation on Mariah’s early development as an artist. Patricia’s relations with Mariah are a bit complicated, filled with bother support and challenges that made Mariah’s career in the music industry.
Adolescence and Profession
Patricia Carey was born into a family with a rich musical heritage. She pursued a career in the music industry, becoming a renowned opera singer. Patricia’s passion for music became a reality from a young age as she worked very hard to launch herself in the competitive opera music world. Her willpower to create songs effectively showcased her skills and laid the groundwork for her daughter’s upcoming achievements. As Mariah grew up, Patricia had a vital role in nurturing her daughter’s musical capabilities. Mariah has frequently credited her mother with instilling a love for song in her from an early age as she started singing at the age of 3, regularly imitating her mother’s opera performances.
A Complicated Relationship
Despite their shared devotion to music, Mariah and Patricia’s relationship has been defined as confused and complicated. In her 2020 memoir, The Meaning Of Mariah Carey, Mariah discussed the circumstances she grew up in with her mother who was both a support in her career and also a reason for conflict. The singer found out that their relationship was complicated due to competition and jealousy, which often led to emotional pain. Mariah described her mother as difficult and demanding which contributed to her emotions of inadequacy during her early life when she grew up and became a singer. She mentioned instances wherein Patricia’s high expectations created tension among them, leading to a strained relationship. In her memoir, Mariah said, “Like many aspects of my life, my journey with my mother has been full of contradictions and competing realities.” Despite having these differences, Mariah expressed profound love for her mother. She recounted that Patricia’s influence on her existence and profession became extensive, and she wrote a segment of her memoir to honor their bonding. Mariah wrote, “Pat, my mother, I believe, is actually the best. I love you best I always.”
Recent Events and Legacy
Tragically, Patricia Carey died on August 25, 2024, at the age of 87, just a few days after Mariah shared the beauty of their relationship. The information of her dying, in concurrence with the passing of Mariah’s sister, Alison, on the same day, sent shockwaves through the music world and left Mariah heartbroken. In a statement, she expressed her emotions, and said, “My heart is broken that I’ve lost my mother this past weekend. Tragically, my sister also lost her life on that same day.” Mariah’s relationship together with her mom became stronger as they collaborated musically in later years. In 2010, they recorded a duet of “O Come All Ye Faithful/Hallelujah chorus” for Mariah’s Christmas album, showcasing their ability to come together through music despite the challenges in their relationship.
