Q & Andy: Mariah Carey

Five octaves, 18 No. 1 singles, 200 million records sold. And the best tour rider in the biz (reportedly: 20 white kittens, 100 white doves, and a bevy of bendy straws for the Cristal). When we called Mariah Carey the world’s biggest diva in our September 2007 cover story, we weren’t wrong. And we wouldn’t be wrong now — and, God, we still love her for it. As she gets set to embark on a worldwide tour after releasing her widely-acclaimed album, Caution, we republished her 2015 imagined interview with Andy Warhol, about everything from Marilyn movies to Hello Kitty.

ANDY WARHOL: What did you have for breakfast? 

MARIAH CAREY: Smoked salmon with capers.

WARHOL: What was your first job?

CAREY: I worked at a pet shop.

WARHOL: Who was the nicest person you worked for? 

CAREY: They were all pretty bad…

WARHOL: What are you working on now?

CAREY: I’m touring, filming a docu-series, and trying my hardest to get back into the studio as soon as possible.

WARHOL: Is there anything you regret not doing? 

CAREY: To quote Frank Sinatra, “Regrets, I’ve had a few / But then again, too few to mention.”

WARHOL: What’s your favorite movie?

CAREY: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

WARHOL: Do you keep a diary?

CAREY: YES!

WARHOL: Do you dream?

CAREY: Sometimes I wake up laughing when I have a great dream. And sometimes I have nightmares – and I HATE them.

WARHOL: When do you get nervous?

CAREY: I still get nervous sometimes before performing.

WARHOL: What’s the craziest thing a fan has sent you?

CAREY: The fans never send me crazy things. They send me things that they put so much time and effort into making, and they are so amazing. You have to see them!

WARHOL: Are you a good cook?

CAREY: Yes! I’ve been told I’m a very good cook, and I have several specialties.

WARHOL: What do you think about love?

CAREY: I never thought that I would have love again, but it’s amazing how the universe brings love to you.

WARHOL: Do you think that it is vanity to worry so much about what you look like?

CAREY: Yes! I wish I could get over it. LOL

WARHOL: Do you dance at home?

CAREY: Oh yeah!!! LOL

WARHOL: What kind of clothes do you like now?

CAREY: Lingerie.

WARHOL: Do you do your own nails?

CAREY: I could do my own nails…I went to beauty school in the 11th grade. But why would I do that now?

WARHOL: How many tubes of lipstick do you use a day?

CAREY: I prefer gloss.

WARHOL: Do you have a dream role?

CAREY: Yes. I want to be Hello Kitty. Haha.