It was 2008. The world was obsessed with low-rise jeans and the Motorola Razr. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Mariah Carey—the voice of a generation, the "Queen of Christmas"—married a guy from Nickelodeon.
Nick Cannon.
People were confused. It was a whirlwind, for sure. They had only been dating for about six weeks before they tied the knot in a secret Bahamian ceremony. Honestly, looking back, it felt like a fever dream. Mariah was this untouchable global icon, and Nick was the high-energy host of Wild 'N Out. It shouldn't have worked. But for six years, it actually did.
The Whirlwind and the Ring Pops
They didn't just get married; they made it their entire personality. Remember the annual vow renewals? They re-married at Disneyland. They re-married in Paris. Nick even proposed with a diamond ring hidden inside a Ring Pop wrapper. It was peak 2000s camp.
Then came the twins in 2011. Moroccan and Monroe, or "Dem Kids" as Mariah affectionately calls them. Born on the couple's third wedding anniversary, no less. For a while, they were the "it" couple that defied the odds. But the cracks started showing around 2014.
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The gossip mills went into overdrive. Was he cheating? Was she too much of a diva? Nick eventually admitted that the pressure of being "Mr. Carey" was real. In a 2024 interview, he got vulnerable about feeling overshadowed. He was in his 20s, married to the biggest star on the planet. That's a lot for any ego to handle.
Why They Actually Split
The divorce wasn't a quick "ink-on-paper" situation. It took nearly two years to finalize. While rumors of infidelity always swirl around famous men, the reality seemed more about two people growing in opposite directions. Mariah is a stationary sun; everything revolves around her world. Nick, as we’ve seen in the decade since, is... well, he’s a lot of places at once.
By 2016, the legalities were over. Mariah moved on to an engagement with billionaire James Packer (which ended spectacularly), and Nick started what can only be described as a marathon of fatherhood.
Today, the contrast is wild. Mariah maintains her carefully curated, glamorous life. Nick has 12 children with six different women. It’s a lot to keep track of. Even Nick forgets their names sometimes—he literally missed two of them during a 2025 podcast appearance with Bobbi Althoff.
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The Current State of Affairs in 2026
If you’re wondering how they get along now, it’s complicated but weirdly respectful. Mariah is notoriously private about Nick these days. During a CBS Mornings interview in late 2025, she basically told Gayle King that she prefers not to talk about him because he’s "in his own world."
You can't really blame her.
Nick, on the other hand, can’t stop talking about her. He’s called her his "dream girl" and the "love of his life" repeatedly. He even said he’d "absolutely" get back with her if she’d have him. Spoiler: She probably won't. She’s busy being Mariah Carey and reportedly linked to musician Anderson .Paak lately.
The Money Gap
Let's talk about the bank accounts, because the disparity is staggering.
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- Mariah Carey: Estimated net worth of $350 million. She makes roughly $3 million every single December just from "All I Want For Christmas Is You."
- Nick Cannon: Estimated net worth of $50 million. He pulls in a massive salary—about $25 million a year—from The Masked Singer and other ventures, but he also spends over $3 million annually on child support and expenses for his 12 kids.
What Most People Get Wrong
People think they hate each other. They don't. They’ve mastered the "divorced but friendly" vibe for the sake of Moroccan and Monroe, who are now 14-year-old teenagers. They still do Christmas together. They still show up for birthdays.
The biggest misconception is that the marriage was a PR stunt. If you look at the way they talk about those early years, it’s clear there was genuine heat there. Nick has admitted he was "careless" after the divorce, fathering so many children as a way to cope with the trauma of losing that family unit.
Actionable Insights for the "Lambily" and Fans
If you're following the saga, keep these things in mind:
- Don't expect a reunion: Despite Nick’s public pining, Mariah has moved into a completely different era of her life. She values her peace (and her brand) too much to step back into that chaos.
- The kids are the priority: Both parents have been incredibly consistent about keeping the twins out of the "baby mama" drama that surrounds Nick's other relationships.
- Watch the charts: Mariah’s upcoming album, Here For It All, is expected to drop soon. Listen for the lyrics—she usually processes her exes through her songwriting.
Their story is a classic Hollywood lesson: Sometimes the most passionate matches are the ones that burn out the fastest. They were a mismatch that made perfect sense for a moment in time, but in 2026, they are two very different people living in two very different universes.
Next Steps: You can track Mariah's upcoming tour dates or check out Nick's latest episodes of The Masked Singer to see how they’re both staying at the top of their respective games this year.