Nick Cannon is reflecting on his marriage to Mariah Carey, sharing how he embraced the role of being her support system during their time together.
On his podcast Nick Cannon @ Night, the entertainer spoke about how both he and Carey respected each other’s careers while navigating life as a power couple.
“When I was married, that was what we respected and actually admired about one another is that we were both on our own boss-level trajectory,” Cannon said.
He explained that backing Carey was something he did with pride: “I love the fact that you know she put all of her work, all of her passion, all of her art, and I could be there to be that support. I used to say like the thing that was dope was when she turned hers on, I turned mine off. So I was very comfortable in supporting her.”
Cannon and Carey wed in 2008 after a whirlwind romance and welcomed twins Moroccan and Monroe in 2011. They separated in 2014 and finalized their divorce in 2016, but have remained close as co-parents.
Looking back, Cannon said he always understood what it meant to stand beside a global icon. “Most men don’t get to marry Mariah Carey,” he said. “I went in understanding, like, wow, this is one of the most amazing people to ever grace this planet, so I was able to play my position in a way.”
Confident in himself, Cannon said he could adapt to whatever Carey needed. “If you need me to be the man and buck up for a second, I can be that, or if you just need me to fall back, I can be that, as well.”
Though their marriage didn’t last, Cannon has continued to speak highly of Carey, often calling her the love of his life. In a 2023 interview, he described her as nothing short of divine.
“I was 12 years old with Mariah Carey pictures on my wall, and that becomes my wife. And the fact that she’s the coolest person I ever met […] She’s just always happy, always doing for others. No matter what’s happening in life. I’m like, ‘Wow, a person can really operate like that and don’t allow negative energy into they space.’ When I found that out about how remarkable she was, that woman is not human. She’s a gift from God,” Cannon said.
