Mariah Carey

Solo Artist · Songbird Supreme

Photo: Steve Gawley · CC BY-SA 3.0
Active 1988-present
Origin Huntington, New York
Albums 16
Tracks 199
Most frequent collaborator Walter Afanasieff · 43 tracks
Genres PopR&BSoulHip Hop Soul
Artist
87%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 173 of 199 tracks

Did Mariah Carey write her own songs?

Yes, almost all of them, which sets her apart from many pop divas. Mariah Carey co-writes around 87% of her catalogue, credited on hits from 'Vision of Love' to 'We Belong Together.' She usually co-writes with her producers, like Walter Afanasieff on her early ballads and Jermaine Dupri on her 2000s hits. She holds the record for the most number-one songs by a female songwriter.

By the Numbers

16
Studio Albums
199
Tracks Credited
87%
Self-Written
220M+
Records Sold
38
Years Active
337
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 173 / 199 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 199 tracks: how many Mariah Carey wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Mariah Carey has a writing credit87%
2%
85%
13%
Sole author3tracks2%
Co-written170tracks85%
Outside writers26tracks13%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Mariah Carey's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 199 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)87%
Composer (music)87%
Producer89%
Performer100%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Mariah Carey's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 87%
100%
90%
90%
27%
92%
92%
100%
75%
93%
100%
100%
94%
46%
93%
100%
91%
1990Mariah Carey
1991Emotions
1993Music Box
1994Merry Christmas
1995Daydream
1997Butterfly
1999Rainbow
2001Glitter
2002Charmbracelet
2005The Emancipation of Mimi
2008E=MC²
2009Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel
2010Merry Christmas II You
2014Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse
2018Caution
2025Here for It All
Early · 82% written
Mid · 94% written
Late · 81% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

85%
1990s
Mariah Carey, Emotions +5 more
93%
2000s
Glitter, Charmbracelet +3 more
78%
2010s
Merry Christmas II You, Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse +1 more
91%
2020s
Here for It All

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Mariah Carey sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Mariah Carey
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Whitney Houston5%
Aretha Franklin14%
The Jacksons24%
Kelly Clarkson49%
Smokey Robinson59%
Mary J. Blige70%
Prince96%
87%Mariah Carey
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Vision of Love
Mariah Carey
Written by Mariah Carey, Ben Margulies
Co-wrote
Love Takes Time
Mariah Carey
Written by Mariah Carey, Ben Margulies
Co-wrote
Someday
Mariah Carey
Written by Mariah Carey, Ben Margulies
Co-wrote
I Don't Wanna Cry
Mariah Carey
Written by Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff
Co-wrote
Emotions
Emotions
Written by Mariah Carey, David Cole, Robert Clivillés
Co-wrote
Can't Let Go
Emotions
Written by Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff
Co-wrote
Make It Happen
Emotions
Written by Mariah Carey, David Cole, Robert Clivillés
Co-wrote
Dreamlover
Music Box
Written by Mariah Carey, Dave Hall
Co-wrote
Hero
Music Box
Written by Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff
Co-wrote
Without You
Music Box
Written by Pete Ham, Tom Evans
Outside writers
Anytime You Need a Friend
Music Box
Written by Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff
Co-wrote
All I Want for Christmas Is You
Merry Christmas
Written by Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff
Co-wrote
Fantasy
Daydream
Written by Mariah Carey, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, Dave Hall, Adrian Belew, Steven Stanley
Co-wrote
One Sweet Day
Daydream
Written by Mariah Carey, Michael McCary, Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman
Co-wrote
Always Be My Baby
Daydream
Written by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri, Manuel Seal Jr.
Co-wrote
Honey
Butterfly
Written by Mariah Carey, Sean Combs, Stevie J, Q-Tip, Barry Eastmond, Bobby Eli
Co-wrote
My All
Butterfly
Written by Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff
Co-wrote
Heartbreaker
Rainbow
Written by Mariah Carey, Jay-Z, Deric Angelettie
Co-wrote
Thank God I Found You
Rainbow
Written by Mariah Carey, James Harris III, Terry Lewis
Co-wrote
Loverboy
Glitter
Written by Mariah Carey, Larry Blackmon, Thomas Jenkins
Co-wrote
Through the Rain
Charmbracelet
Written by Mariah Carey, Lionel Cole
Co-wrote
It's Like That
The Emancipation of Mimi
Written by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri, Manuel Seal, Johnta Austin, Isaac Freeman, Douglas Davis, Slick Rick
Co-wrote
We Belong Together
The Emancipation of Mimi
Written by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri, Manuel Seal, Johnta Austin, Darnell Bristol, Kenneth Edmonds, Sidney DeWayne, Bobby Womack, Patrick Moten, Sandra Sully
Co-wrote
Shake It Off
The Emancipation of Mimi
Written by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox, Johnta Austin
Co-wrote
Touch My Body
E=MC²
Written by Mariah Carey, Crystal Johnson, Terius Nash, Christopher Stewart
Co-wrote
Bye Bye
E=MC²
Written by Mariah Carey, Johnta Austin, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor E. Hermansen
Co-wrote
I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time
E=MC²
Written by Mariah Carey, Aldrin Davis, Crystal Johnson, Mark DeBarge, Etterlene Jordan
Co-wrote
Obsessed
Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel
Written by Mariah Carey, Christopher Stewart, Terius Nash
Co-wrote
I Want to Know What Love Is
Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel
Written by Mick Jones
Outside writers
Oh Santa!
Merry Christmas II You
Written by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox
Co-wrote
#Beautiful
Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse
Written by Mariah Carey, Miguel Pimentel, Nathan Perez, Brook Davis, Mac Robinson, Brian Keith Warfield
Co-wrote
You're Mine (Eternal)
Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse
Written by Mariah Carey, Rodney Jerkins
Co-wrote
With You
Caution
Written by Mariah Carey, Charles Hinshaw Jr., Greg Lawary, Dijon McFarlane
Co-wrote
Type Dangerous
Here for It All
Written by Mariah Carey, Brandon Paak Anderson, Kenya Rae Johnson, Jairus Mozee, Jason Pounds, Daniel Moore II, Eric Barrier, William Griffin
Co-wrote
Sugar Sweet
Here for It All
Written by Mariah Carey, Bernard Harvey, Felisha King-Harvey, Kehlani Parrish, Chinsea Linda Lee, Donny Flores, Mikhail Wesley Miller, Darius Scott Dixson, Patrick Charles
Co-wrote

Discography 16 albums

Covers all 15 studio albums including both holiday albums.

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Mariah Carey199 tracks
43Walter Afanasieff, 43 tracks 24Jermaine Dupri, 24 tracks JW21James Wright, 21 tracks CS16Christopher Stewart, 16 tracks BC13Bryan-Michael Cox, 13 tracks 13Randy Jackson, 13 tracks on Journey's page TN13Terius Nash, 13 tracks JJ11Jimmy Jam, 11 tracks TL11Terry Lewis, 11 tracks MS10Manuel Seal, 10 tracks JA8Johnta Austin, 8 tracks BM7Ben Margulies, 7 tracks JH7James Harris III, 7 tracks DM7Daniel Moore II, 7 tracks DC6David Cole, 6 tracks RC6Robert Clivillés, 6 tracks CJ5Crystal Johnson, 5 tracks RL4Rhett Lawrence, 4 tracks RW4Ric Wake, 4 tracks BP4Brandon Paak Anderson, 4 tracks KR4Kenya Rae Johnson, 4 tracks DH3Dave Hall, 3 tracks LC3Lionel Cole, 3 tracks JB3Just Blaze, 3 tracks KC3Kenneth Crouch, 3 tracks JP3James Poyser, 3 tracks on The Roots's page MS3Marc Shaiman, 3 tracks H3Hit-Boy, 3 tracks JB3Jason Boyd, 3 tracks FK3Felisha King-Harvey, 3 tracks A.3Anderson .Paak, 3 tracks NM2Narada Michael Walden, 2 tracks on Journey's page B2Babyface, 2 tracks AA2Adolphe Adam, 2 tracks CF2Chris Frantz, 2 tracks TW2Tina Weymouth, 2 tracks AB2Adrian Belew, 2 tracks SS2Steven Stanley, 2 tracks MS2Manuel Seal Jr., 2 tracks SC2Sean Combs, 2 tracks on Puff Daddy's page Q2Q-Tip, 2 tracks J2Jay-Z, 2 tracks J2Joe, 2 tracks SD2Snoop Dogg, 2 tracks LB2Larry Blackmon, 2 tracks TJ2Thomas Jenkins, 2 tracks CK2Clark Kent, 2 tracks DY2Damion Young, 2 tracks D2Damizza, 2 tracks DC2DJ Clue, 2 tracks D2Duro, 2 tracks F2Fabolous, 2 tracks JS2Justin Smith, 2 tracks CG2Cameron Giles, 2 tracks VD2Vidal Davis, 2 tracks AH2Andre Harris, 2 tracks MA2Mary Ann Tatum, 2 tracks D&2Dre & Vidal, 2 tracks SR2Slick Rick, 2 tracks PW2Pharrell Williams, 2 tracks CH2Chad Hugo, 2 tracks TN2The Neptunes, 2 tracks AS2Adonis Shropshire, 2 tracks MS2Mikkel S. Eriksen, 2 tracks TE2Tor E. Hermansen, 2 tracks S2Stargate, 2 tracks MD2Mark DeBarge, 2 tracks EJ2Etterlene Jordan, 2 tracks DA2Denisia Andrews, 2 tracks CH2Chauncey Hollis, 2 tracks AF2Allan Felder, 2 tracks JY2Jonathan Yip, 2 tracks RR2Ray Romulus, 2 tracks JR2Jeremy Reeves, 2 tracks TS2The Stereotypes, 2 tracks JM2Jairus Mozee, 2 tracks JP2Jason Pounds, 2 tracks N2N.W.I., 2 tracks BH2Bernard Harvey, 2 tracks H2Harv, 2 tracks RC2Rogét Chahayed, 2 tracks AB2Alissia Benveniste, 2 tracks R&2Rogét & Alissia, 2 tracks CK1Carole King, 1 track RF1Russell Freeman, 1 track DS1Daryl Simmons, 1 track PH1Pete Ham, 1 track TE1Tom Evans, 1 track JB1Jeff Barry, 1 track EG1Ellie Greenwich, 1 track PS1Phil Spector, 1 track PC1Placide Cappeau, 1 track MT1Mel Tormé, 1 track RW1Robert Wells, 1 track MM1Michael McCary, 1 track on Boyz II Men's page NM1Nathan Morris, 1 track on Boyz II Men's page WM1Wanya Morris, 1 track on Boyz II Men's page SS1Shawn Stockman, 1 track on Boyz II Men's page BI1Boyz II Men, 1 track SP1Steve Perry, 1 track on Journey's page JC1Jonathan Cain, 1 track on Journey's page DM1David Morales, 1 track SJ1Stevie J, 1 track BE1Barry Eastmond, 1 track BE1Bobby Eli, 1 track BT1Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, 1 track KB1Krayzie Bone, 1 track on Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's page WB1Wish Bone, 1 track on Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's page PR1Prince Rogers Nelson, 1 track DH1Dru Hill, 1 track DA1Deric Angelettie, 1 track DW1Diane Warren, 1 track CG1Carey Goffin, 1 track 9D198 Degrees, 1 track U1Usher, 1 track DB1Da Brat, 1 track L1Ludacris, 1 track TI1Twenty II, 1 track S1Shawnna, 1 track HH1Howie Hersh, 1 track JA1Jeffrey Atkins, 1 track NH1Nathaniel Hale, 1 track JR1Ja Rule, 1 track ND1Nate Dogg, 1 track TB1Thomas Brown, 1 track TS1Toni Smith, 1 track M1Mystikal, 1 track RJ1Rick James, 1 track PP1Philippe Pierre, 1 track MC1Michael Cleveland, 1 track BR1Busta Rhymes, 1 track EB1Eric Benet, 1 track NW1Norman Whitfield, 1 track C1Cam'ron, 1 track SC1Shawn Carter, 1 track LP1Leslie Pridgen, 1 track F1Freeway, 1 track TL1Trevor Lawrence, 1 track LH1Leon Haywood, 1 track OJ1O'Shea Jackson, 1 track on Ice Cube's page QJ1Quincy Jones III, 1 track TL1Theodore Life, 1 track DW1Dexter Wansel, 1 track IC1Ice Cube, 1 track W1WC, 1 track M11Mack 10, 1 track MV1Marcus Vest, 1 track LS1Lloyd Smith, 1 track RB1Rob Bacon, 1 track C71Channel 7, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. Showing the 150 most frequent of 331. JW James Wright · CS Christopher Stewart · BC Bryan-Michael Cox

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

Mariah Carey is one of the rare mainstream pop superstars who has consistently co-written her own material from her very first album. While artists like Whitney Houston performed other people's songs almost exclusively, Carey's near-total authorship across a massive catalog spanning three decades makes her score among the highest of any pop artist at her commercial level.

Quick Facts

  • Number onesHas 19 number-one Billboard Hot 100 singles, the most of any solo artist
  • SongwriterCo-writes her own songs and has the most number ones of any female songwriter
  • GrammysWon five Grammy Awards
  • All I Want for Christmas Is YouThe longest-running number-one single in Hot 100 history, at 22 weeks
  • Vocal rangeKnown for a five-octave range and her signature whistle register

Creative Fingerprint

A diva who writes: unlike many pop vocalists, Mariah Carey co-writes almost all of her material, credited on around 87% of her tracks, from 'Vision of Love' to 'We Belong Together,' usually alongside producers like Walter Afanasieff and Jermaine Dupri.

The Story

Mariah Carey is an American singer, songwriter, and producer who emerged in 1990 with one of the most acclaimed debut albums in pop history, going on to become one of the best-selling music artists of all time with over 220 million records sold. Known for her five-octave vocal range and whistle register, she has charted 19 number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100, more than any other solo artist in history. Born and raised in New York, she was discovered by Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola after performing a demo at an industry party in 1988, and her self-titled debut arrived in 1990 to immediate commercial and critical success. Unlike many pop artists of her era, Carey was a primary co-writer on virtually every track she has ever recorded, collaborating most closely with Walter Afanasieff in her early career and later with Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox, and Babyface. Her authorship story is one of the most consistent in mainstream pop: from her first album through her most recent work, she has held co-writing credit on the overwhelming majority of her catalog.

Awards & Recognition

Sold over 220 million records worldwide, one of the best-selling music artists of all time
Has 19 number-one Billboard Hot 100 singles, the most of any solo artist
Won five Grammy Awards
'All I Want for Christmas Is You' is the longest-running number-one single in Hot 100 history, at 22 weeks
Has the most number-one songs of any female songwriter

Frequently Asked Questions Mariah Carey

Did Mariah Carey write her own songs?
Yes, almost all of them, which sets her apart from many pop divas. Mariah Carey co-writes around 87% of her catalogue, credited on hits from 'Vision of Love' to 'We Belong Together.' She usually co-writes with her producers, like Walter Afanasieff on her early ballads and Jermaine Dupri on her 2000s hits. She holds the record for the most number-one songs by a female songwriter.
Who wrote 'All I Want for Christmas Is You'?
'All I Want for Christmas Is You' (1994) was co-written by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff. It is the longest-running number-one single in Billboard Hot 100 history and the best-selling holiday single by a woman.
Who wrote 'We Belong Together'?
'We Belong Together' (2005) was co-written by Mariah Carey with Jermaine Dupri and others. It was the biggest hit of her comeback album The Emancipation of Mimi and one of the defining songs of the 2000s.
Did Mariah Carey write 'Vision of Love'?
Yes. 'Vision of Love' (1990) was co-written by Mariah Carey with Ben Margulies. It was her debut single, went to number one, and helped launch the whistle-register, melismatic style she became known for.
Who does Mariah Carey write with?
Over her career she has co-written with Walter Afanasieff on her early ballads, then increasingly with hip-hop and R&B producers like Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox, and The-Dream.
How many albums has Mariah Carey released?
This catalogue covers 15 of her albums, from her 1990 self-titled debut through The Emancipation of Mimi to Caution (2018), plus her holiday records.
How many number ones does Mariah Carey have?
Nineteen number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100, the most of any solo artist in history.
How many records has Mariah Carey sold?
Over 220 million worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
How many Grammys has Mariah Carey won?
Five Grammy Awards, plus a Grammy Global Impact Award.
What genre is Mariah Carey?
She is a pop and R&B singer with soul and hip-hop soul influences, known for blending big ballads with R&B and rap collaborations, and for her five-octave voice.

Sources

Wikipedia: Mariah Carey discography File:Mariah Carey 2005.jpg - Wikimedia Commons