Mariah Carey Laments Unreleased Michael Jackson Collab

Mariah Carey is reportedly heartbroken that a long-hidden collaboration with Michael Jackson will not be included on her 16th studio album.

The singer recently opened up about the deeply emotional process behind the album, which she says grew out of grief and healing after losing her mother and sister on the same day. 

Speculation now suggests that Michael Jackson's estate is blocking the song's release, possibly to avoid overshadowing the late star's biopic, which has already been pushed back multiple times.

Mariah revealed that she had recorded a track with Michael but has been unable to release it due to restrictions from his estate. During a fan Q&A with Andy Cohen on "Watch What Happens Live," she admitted she had pushed for the duet to appear on "Here For It All," her 16th studio release. 

She explained that while the song is finished, "there's an issue with his estate because they're doing something really huge for him [in the future], and this [song] we didn't know would kind of usurp that situation."

Mariah admitted her frustration, saying she always felt the song belonged on the record and that everyone who heard it reacted with amazement. The Daily Mail reported that Mariah remains hopeful the song will eventually be cleared for release.

Mariah is back with a new album after a seven-year hiatus, but her return carries a poignant story of grief and healing.

The Blast shared that her 16th studio project, released on September 26, was created while she coped with losing both her mother, Patricia Carey, and her sister, Alison, on the same day in August 2024.

In a candid conversation with Gayle King on CBS Mornings, Mariah said the dual loss was "extremely difficult to navigate" and admitted she struggled with how to process it. 

She described her relationship with her mother as complicated yet was thankful she could spend time with her during her final days. Patricia's last words gave her the closure she did not expect. While she found peace with her mother, the star admitted she never had that same chance with her sister. 

The 56-year-old may not be able to share her long-awaited collaboration with the late artist yet, but she is keeping her fans engaged with tracks from her latest project.

The outlet highlighted how excitement first spiked in July when Mariah teased a preview of "Sugar Sweet" on Instagram. The playful track instantly grabbed attention, with listeners declaring it had all the makings of a summer anthem.

Even earlier, in June, she kicked off the album rollout with "Type Dangerous," a punchy single paired with a music video that fueled even more anticipation. Both songs set the tone for what Mariah promised would be a refreshing yet familiar sound.

When discussing the direction of her new record, the songwriter described it as true to her signature style while incorporating something unexpected. 

The reason for the stalled duet, which is tied to a larger project from the late singer's estate, is his upcoming biopic.

The Blast noted that Michael's long-anticipated biopic has now been pushed back three times, with its release initially scheduled for April 2025, then moved to October 2025, and most recently to April 24, 2026.

The film is expected to hit theaters worldwide, including IMAX screens, making this its third and potentially final delay. The holdup began when the first cut came in at over three and a half hours, prompting the studio to split the movie into two parts to cover his career and personal life.

Another factor was the film's inclusion of sensitive references to Jordan Chandler, who accused Michael of molestation at age 13.

Mariah finally explained what really happened during the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards when cameras caught her appearing less than thrilled at Muni's performance of "We Belong Together." 

The Blast highlighted how clips from the event quickly spread online, with many fans speculating that Mariah was throwing shade at Muni's vocals. But in an interview with GQ, the music legend set the record straight. She admitted she did not even realize Muni was covering her song at the time.

"I didn't know it happened. No one told me," she said, adding that the poor sound in the venue left her confused. Mariah emphasized that she was honored that Muni chose to perform the track but confessed she does not always enjoy hearing other artists reinterpret her work.

Fans can only wait and hope that Mariah Carey and Michael Jackson's long-hidden collaboration finally sees the light of day.