Mariah Carey isn’t letting her lack of induction into the celebrated Rock & Roll Hall of Fame get her down, and she responded to the snub in true diva fashion.
Following the announcement of the 2026 Rock Hall class, Carey was recently asked her thoughts on missing induction for the third year in a row, and her mind is clearly elsewhere.
Mariah Carey Says ‘Who Cares’ After Latest Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Snub
TMZ caught up with Mariah Carey after the 2026 Rock Hall class was revealed, and she is apparently unbothered. She responded “no” when asked directly by the outlet if she was upset at not being included this year.
Known to always show love to her devoted fanbase, the Lambs, Carey said, “I love my fans. Always!” She also bluntly added additional feelings about the Hall of Fame slight. “Who cares? Like, give it to somebody else. Fantastic.”
This year’s class includes: Sade, Luther Vandross, Wu-Tang Clan, and Phil Collins.
Carey Previously Addressed Not Getting Inducted In 2024
In an exclusive interview with the Los Angeles Times, Carey’s dissatisfaction was prominent when asked how she felt about not being inducted for the first time in 2024.
“My thoughts are: I didn’t get in,” she said at the time. “Everybody was calling me, going, ‘I think you’re getting in!’ and so I was excited about it. But then it didn’t happen. My lawyer [Allen Grubman] got into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame before me.”
The Singer Explained Why She Rejects The ‘Legend’ Title
Mariah Carey spoke about her massively successful 35-year career with Billboard in January 2026.
“I’ve always worked really hard,” Carey told the outlet about the key to her success, “because I knew [from the start] that I wanted to be here for a long time. The one lesson I’ve learned is to just be true to yourself. And I was fortunate enough to be able to do that. There were some things along the way that weren’t ideal, you know, but here I am.”
The Grammy winner shared that her three goals “to love, heal, and uplift” with her music have remained constant throughout her career.
“I’ve always tried to incorporate messages into my songs like ‘Make It Happen’ and ‘Hero,'” she explained. “It’s just an interesting thing to be able to give back in that way. I didn’t grow up with money. And if you grew up like me, it means even more to be able to give back.”
Despite being widely recognized for her diva ways, both on and off the stage, and for endless hits that other artists would kill for, Carey says that, aside from her resume, calling her a legend isn’t something she embraces.
“Everybody has their own little meanings for what things they say,” she told the outlet. “But I don’t call myself a legend. I’m just still working, still trying hard.”
Carey Also Shared Why Giving Back Is So Important To Her
“All of us should do what we can to give back something,” Carey shared. “And it’s also important to do more than that. I get caught up with my schedule sometimes, so it’s not as much as it should be. But it’s still an important part of my life.”
That sentiment also extends to her long-running Camp Mariah program for children ages 12 -15, the same camp that served as the location for her iconic 1995 music video “Always Be My Baby.”
She Recently Performed During The Opening Ceremony For The Winter Olympics
In February 2026, Mariah Carey performed at the Opening Ceremony for the Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, and she shared her excitement at the honor.
“I can’t believe it,” Carey said while on “The Big Tigger Morning Show.” “I have to sing in Italian. It really feels good, especially with having a new album out and everything, to be recognized in that way was amazing.”
She joined other acts, including singer Andrea Bocelli. The international event is still available to stream via Peacock.