Mariah Carey’s Family Life: A Look at Her Late Parents, Siblings, and Children

Before becoming a renowned musician, Mariah Carey faced challenges in finding love and joy within her fractured family—a pursuit that remained constant even after achieving musical fame.

In her 2020 memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey, she opened up about her tumultuous relationship with her family, particularly her mother, Patricia Carey. The Grammy-winning artist revealed feelings of “significant neglect” from her mother, who she described as being envious of her achievements.

“For my own peace of mind, my therapist advised me to literally rename and reframe my family. My mother became Pat to me, Morgan my ex-brother, and Alison my ex-sister,” Mariah noted, referring to her siblings, Morgan and Alison Carey. “I had to stop expecting them to eventually become the mother, big brother, and sister I longed for.”

She also admitted, “I had to stop presenting myself as someone they could hurt,” mentioning that her relationship with Patricia remained “complicated” until her passing in August 2024.

Despite the highs and lows, Mariah expressed feeling “blessed” to have spent “the last week with my mom before she passed,” sharing with People in a statement. “I am grateful for everyone’s love and support, as well as respect for my privacy during this unimaginable time.”

Scroll down for more about Mariah’s family:

Alfred Roy Carey

Mariah’s father, Alfred, had three children with Patricia before their divorce when Mariah was just 3 years old in 1973. While she visited her father on weekends during her childhood, their meetings became less frequent as she rose to fame.

Alfred, who grew up in New York, passed away in July 2022 after battling a rare cancer called bile duct cancer. He was 72. Before his passing, Mariah rekindled her relationship with her father, who had served in the military during his younger years. She honored him in her song “Sunflowers for Alfred Roy” and, in October 2022, restored his vintage sports car on what would have been his birthday.

Patricia Carey

Mariah’s mother was a Juilliard-trained opera singer who transitioned to becoming a vocal coach after giving up her career to raise a family. Patricia passed away in August 2024 at the age of 87.

Throughout her life, Mariah characterized her relationship with Patricia as “anything but straightforward.” Following her divorce from Alfred, Patricia had primary custody of Mariah and her siblings, although it was far from easy.

“Like many facets of my life, my relationship with my mother has been riddled with contradictions and competing truths. It’s rarely been black-and-white; it’s been a spectrum of emotions,” Mariah reflected. “Our bond is a complex web of pride, pain, shame, gratitude, envy, admiration, and disappointment. A complicated love ties my heart to my mother’s.”

In a statement following Patricia’s passing, Mariah expressed, “My heart is shattered that I’ve lost my mother this past weekend.”

Alison Carey

Alison was Mariah’s eldest sibling. Tragically, she passed away on the same day as their mother, Patricia, in August 2024. She was 63. “In a heartbreaking turn of events, my sister lost her life on the same day,” Mariah confirmed in a statement.

Before her death, Mariah described her relationship with Alison as strained. “I firmly believe it is emotionally and physically safer for me not to engage with my ex-brother and ex-sister,” Mariah remarked about her siblings in her book. Alison had previously filed a lawsuit against Mariah for purportedly causing her “emotional distress” through her tell-all, which remained unresolved at the time of Alison’s passing, according to InTouch.

Morgan Carey

Morgan is the sole son of Alfred and Patricia. His relationship with Mariah has been tumultuous, with many issues detailed in her 2020 memoir. She recounted an alleged physical altercation between Morgan and their father in the book, as well as claims of Morgan attempting to extort money from her during her rise to fame.

“Her efforts to portray the plaintiff as equally violent as their father, along with her subsequent commentary on police interactions with Black individuals, marked the beginning of defendant Mariah Carey’s desperate attempt to vilify the plaintiff and play the victim card,” alleged Morgan’s legal team in a defamation lawsuit against Mariah filed in March 2021.

Mariah countered, asserting, “The narrative of Ms. Carey’s ascent from a dysfunctional and at times violent family background holds significant public value, especially for any young person who may find themselves in similarly tough situations and who could gain inspiration to harness their talents in pursuit of their dreams,” according to Page Six.

In February 2022, a judge dismissed 14 out of 16 claims from the defamation lawsuit against Mariah. Justice Barbara Jaffee of the state Supreme Court in Manhattan ruled that Morgan could pursue legal action regarding excerpts in her book that suggested he distributed cocaine to “the beautiful people,” and implied he might have been incarcerated for a serious crime, Reuters reported. As of October 2023, the litigation is ongoing.

Monroe Cannon

Mariah welcomed her daughter Monroe and her twin brother Moroccan in April 2011 with then-husband Nick Cannon. Monroe’s name pays homage to the late actress Marilyn Monroe. Mariah and Cannon were married from 2008 until 2016, and they continue to co-parent their two children.

Monroe, affectionately nicknamed “Roe,” is already following in her mother’s footsteps. In December 2022, she performed a duet with Mariah during a Christmas concert in Canada, and the following year, Monroe and Moroccan shared the stage with their mother in NYC.

Reflecting on her family, Carey emphasized the importance of creating a nurturing environment for her children. “It’s crucial for the kids to always feel secure, heard, and loved unconditionally. No matter what, I will always be there for them,” she shared in a 2020 appearance on CBS Mornings.

Moroccan Cannon

Moroccan was the second child born to Mariah and Cannon in April 2011. Like his sister, his initials—“MC”—mirror those of his mother. The name Moroccan was inspired by the décor style of the apartment where Mariah and Cannon were living when he proposed. He goes by “Roc.”

“They help heal me each day. Every moment that feels real, authentic, and genuine is filled with their unconditional love,” Carey reflected during a 2020 interview with Apple TV+. “For the first time, I have a true reference for unconditional familial love.”