{"id":2049087,"date":"2025-09-25T13:01:42","date_gmt":"2025-09-25T13:01:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2049087"},"modified":"2025-09-25T13:01:42","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T13:01:42","slug":"mariah-carey-finally-reveals-the-truth-behind-that-viral-reaction-to-muni-longs-cover","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/mariah-carey-finally-reveals-the-truth-behind-that-viral-reaction-to-muni-longs-cover\/","title":{"rendered":"Mariah Carey Finally Reveals The Truth Behind That Viral Reaction To Muni Long’s Cover"},"content":{"rendered":"

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For months, fans have speculated about Mariah Carey<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s reaction to Muni Long<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s performance of \u201cWe Belong Together\u201d at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards.<\/p>\n

Clips of the \u201cEmotion\u201d singer appearing uncomfortable went viral, sparking endless debate online. Many wondered if the singer was shading Long during her tribute.<\/p>\n

Now, Carey is setting the record straight, finally sharing her side of the story while also opening up about how she really feels about artists covering her songs.<\/p>\n

Mariah Carey Explains Her Feelings About Covers<\/h2>\n
\"Mariah<\/span><\/div>\n

MEGA<\/p>\n

Mariah Carey admitted that she isn\u2019t always comfortable with other artists performing her songs.<\/p>\n

In an interview with GQ<\/a>, she explained that her feelings partly came from a conversation she once had with singer Prince.<\/p>\n

She recalled, \u201cI love \u2018The Beautiful Ones\u2019 so much. And I remember Prince, he didn\u2019t like people to redo his songs. He said to me, \u2018I love \u2018Honey\u2019 though.\u2019 But about [my cover of] \u2018The Beautiful Ones,\u2019 he said he didn\u2019t like when people did covers of his songs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carey said she could relate to his point of view. When asked directly if she enjoys hearing covers of her own songs, she replied honestly, \u201cNot really.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Viral Reaction That Sparked Debate<\/h2>\n

As The Blast<\/a> reported, Mariah Carey was honored with the Icon Award at the March 2025 iHeartRadio Awards, celebrating her decades-long influence on music.<\/p>\n

During the event, Long took the stage to sing \u201cWe Belong Together.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the performance was meant as a tribute, a clip showing Carey looking away at one point quickly went viral.<\/p>\n

Fans on social media argued over whether she was unimpressed, with some suggesting she had deliberately shaded Long.<\/p>\n

During the interview with GQ, the 56-year-old clarified that her reaction had nothing to do with Long\u2019s vocals.<\/p>\n

Instead, she said she did not realize at the time that the singer was even covering her song.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t even hear the cover. I didn\u2019t know it happened. No one told me,\u201d Carey explained.<\/p>\n

She added that the sound in the venue may have contributed to her confusion, saying, \u201cI just didn\u2019t know that she had done \u2018We Belong Together\u2019 \u2018cause her song was so similar\u2026 I had no idea that she did \u2018We Belong Together.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Carey also noted that she was \u201cvery honored and flattered\u201d that Long sang the song. \u201cI love Muni Long, she\u2019s a great person, umm, but I just don\u2019t like people doing my songs,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Muni Long Defends Her Tribute And Shares Mariah Carey\u2019s Praise<\/h2>\n
\"Muni<\/span><\/div>\n

Image Press Agency\/MEGA<\/p>\n

After the awards show, Long took to social media<\/a> to defend her performance and to set the record straight.<\/p>\n

She explained that singing \u201cWe Belong Together\u201d was not her idea; it was specifically requested.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou thought I chose to get on TV and sing a Mariah Carey song? You thought that was my choice? Why would I do that? Nobody can sing Mariah\u2019s songs like Mariah. Nobody,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Long emphasized that she did her best with the moment she was given. \u201cI did my best, and that\u2019s all I can do,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n

The 37-year-old also revealed that Carey complimented her privately after the show.<\/p>\n

Although she had proof of the icon\u2019s words, she refused to share them out of respect.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe told me I did a great job, she appreciated it,\u201d Long said. \u201cBut I\u2019m not gonna post the footage because her lighting wasn\u2019t right. You know how Ms. Carey is about her lighting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Long even joked that if Carey had openly criticized her, she would still have accepted it with grace.<\/p>\n

Carey Publicly Praises Long And Kelly<\/h2>\n
\"Mariah<\/div>\n

Instagram Stories | Mariah Carey<\/p>\n

Two days after the viral moment, Mariah Carey made her feelings clear with a public message.<\/p>\n

She praised Long and Tori Kelly, who also performed during the tribute with a rendition of \u201cAlways Be My Baby.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Instagram, Carey posted a picture of the trio and wrote, per The Blast<\/a>, \u201cSo beyond grateful for these two gorgeous, uber-talented, kind, incredible musicians who made my heart so full of joy with their tribute performances at the @iheartradio awards. I love and appreciate you so much!!!\u201d<\/p>\n

The Grammy Award winner also appeared in a video shared by iHeartRadio, smiling as Long hit her final note, contradicting claims that she had been unimpressed.<\/p>\n

Muni Long Shares Gratitude To Mariah Carey<\/h2>\n

Long responded to Carey\u2019s public post with a heartfelt message of her own.<\/p>\n

She commented, \u201cThank you @mariahcarey for choosing me to honor you in this magical moment! You ARE my Icon and I am your forever lamb. I love you! The little girl in me is screaming.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Long, the chance to perform for Carey was a career highlight.<\/p>\n

She told fans that no matter what critics said, she was proud to have been chosen.<\/p>\n

\u201cNobody can sing Mariah\u2019s songs like Mariah,\u201d Long repeated, making clear that her performance was meant only as a tribute and sign of respect.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n