Mariah Carey: ‘The people were amazing’ at Brighton Pride

Mariah Carey has praised the crowd at Brighton Pride as “amazing” during an interview on the Scott Mills Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2, following her headline performance at Preston Park last Saturday .

“I loved it,” Carey told Mills. “The people were amazing, and just being there amongst friends was really nice.” The five-time Grammy winner dazzled the audience with a set that included classics like Hero, Fantasy, and Touch My Body, alongside her new single Sugar Sweet from her upcoming 16th studio album Here For It All.

Carey, 56, made a powerful statement of allyship by wearing a sparkling dress and jacket in the colours of the transgender flag, with the words Protect The Dolls emblazoned on the back. Her performance was described by critics as her “best form in years,” with her vocals soaring through whistle notes and gospel-infused ballads.

Speaking about her lifelong connection to the LGBTQ+ community, Carey shared a personal story: “I kind of grew up in a situation where my mother had two friends, and they were my guncles - gay uncles. Nobody else in school had guncles, or if they did, they didn’t talk about the gay members of their family. So, I would put on plays for my guncles and do all this stuff. And I think it helped me in my life, being around all different people”.

The pop icon also revealed a quirky behind-the-scenes detail during the interview - she’s woken up to a full face of makeup while flying between countries. “My makeup artist, Kristofer Buckle, would just do my face while I was sleeping on the plane,” she laughed. “Hair too, because the hairdresser was there”.

Carey’s performance was more than just a concert - it was a celebration of identity, resilience, and love. “The LGBTQ+ community has always been here for me,” she told the crowd. “And I just want you to know that I’ll always, always be there for you”.

Photos of Mariah by Sam Hussein