The Evolution of Mariah Carey

From Grammys to Dem Babies, follow Mariah's journey.

Vision of Love - Mariah Carey performs "We Belong Together" at the 2005 BET Awards. (Photo: M. Caulfield/WireImage for BET Entertainment)

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The Evolution of Mariah Carey - From Grammys to Dem Babies, Mariah has had a fantastic voyage. In honor of her 42nd birthday, today, March 27, BET.com takes a look back at some highlights from her journey. (Photo: M. Caulfield/WireImage for BET Entertainment)

Photo By M. Caulfield/WireImage for BET Entertainment

The Evolution of Mariah Carey - Mariah Carey was born in Huntington, NY, on March 27, 1970 to an African-American and Venezuelan father and an Irish-American mother.(Photo: Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect/Getty Images)

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The Evolution of Mariah Carey - Mariah Carey was born in Huntington, NY, on March 27, 1970 to an African-American and Venezuelan father and an Irish-American mother.(Photo: Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect/Getty Images)

Mariah Carey, Mariah Carey - Behind chart-toppers like "Vision of Love," Mariah's 1990 breakthrough, which skillfully showcased her inhuman vocal range and control, set off her amazing, decade-dominating streak of success and made her a superstar overnight. (Photo: Courtesy Columbia Records)

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The Evolution of Mariah Carey - Mariah signed to Columbia Records in 1987 after a chance meeting with CEO Tommy Motola. Her self-titled debut was released in June of 1990 and built buzz slowly, finally topping the charts after she killed it at the Grammys the following year.(Photo: Columbia Records)

The Evolution of Mariah Carey - Mariah's second album, 1991's Emotions, went quadruple-platinum, thanks in part to the title track, her fifth straight No. 1 single. Mariah remains the only artist ever to have their first five singles top the charts.(Photo: Columbia records)

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The Evolution of Mariah Carey - Mariah's second album, 1991's Emotions, went quadruple-platinum, thanks in part to the title track, her fifth straight No. 1 single. Mariah remains the only artist ever to have their first five singles top the charts.(Photo: Columbia records)

The Evolution of Mariah Carey - Mariah was already a star, but her epic performance on MTV Unplugged in 1992, highlighted by her cover of the Jackson 5's "I'll Be There," made her a supernova.

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The Evolution of Mariah Carey - Mariah was already a star, but her epic performance on MTV Unplugged in 1992, highlighted by her cover of the Jackson 5's "I'll Be There," made her a supernova.

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The Evolution of Mariah Carey - Mariah cashed in more than ever on her burgeoning fame with her third studio album, 1993's Music Box, which is one of the best-selling albums of all time with 32 million copies sold worldwide.(Photo: Columbia Records)

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The Evolution of Mariah Carey - Mariah cashed in more than ever on her burgeoning fame with her third studio album, 1993's Music Box, which is one of the best-selling albums of all time with 32 million copies sold worldwide.(Photo: Columbia Records)

The Evolution of Mariah Carey - Mariah did it again in 1995 with Daydream, topping the charts and selling over 10 million copies in the U.S. alone. The album featured more of a hip hop/R&B sound than her previous pop-oriented efforts, and included "Fantasy," which debuted at No. 1 — making Carey the first female artist to do so.(Photo: Columbia Records)

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The Evolution of Mariah Carey - Mariah did it again in 1995 with Daydream, topping the charts and selling over 10 million copies in the U.S. alone. The album featured more of a hip hop/R&B sound than her previous pop-oriented efforts, and included "Fantasy," which debuted at No. 1 — making Carey the first female artist to do so.(Photo: Columbia Records)

The Evolution of Mariah Carey - Fresh off her divorce from husband-boss Tommy Mottola, Mariah had more creative control and independence than ever, and she responded by melding hip hop and pop more than ever before with her 1997 album Butterfly. With the help of collaborators like Diddy, Missy Elliott, Q-Tip and the Trackmasters, the album went five times platinum stateside.(Photo: Columbia Records)

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The Evolution of Mariah Carey - Fresh off her divorce from husband-boss Tommy Mottola, Mariah had more creative control and independence than ever, and she responded by melding hip hop and pop more than ever before with her 1997 album Butterfly. With the help of collaborators like Diddy, Missy Elliott, Q-Tip and the Trackmasters, the album went five times platinum stateside.(Photo: Columbia Records)

The Evolution of Mariah Carey - Two once-in-a-liftetime divas joined forces in 1998 when Mariah and Whitney Houston duetted on "When You Believe" from The Prince of Egypt soundtrack. Simply epic.(Photo: Reuters)

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The Evolution of Mariah Carey - Two once-in-a-liftetime divas joined forces in 1998 when Mariah and Whitney Houston duetted on "When You Believe" from The Prince of Egypt soundtrack. Simply epic.(Photo: Reuters)

Photo By Photo: Reuters

The Evolution of Mariah Carey - Amid drama with her ex-hubby Tommy Mottola's label, Mariah released 1999's Rainbow. The album was her first in years not to reach No. 1, though it did still sell triple-platinum.(Photo: Columbia Records)

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The Evolution of Mariah Carey - Amid drama with her ex-hubby Tommy Mottola's label, Mariah released 1999's Rainbow. The album was her first in years not to reach No. 1, though it did still sell triple-platinum.(Photo: Columbia Records)

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The Evolution of Mariah Carey - In the wake of a record-breaking new $100 million deal with Virgin, Mariah took her star power to Hollywood with the 2001 semi-autobiographical film Glitter and its accompanying soundtrack.(Photo: Virgin Records)

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The Evolution of Mariah Carey - In the wake of a record-breaking new $100 million deal with Virgin, Mariah took her star power to Hollywood with the 2001 semi-autobiographical film Glitter and its accompanying soundtrack.(Photo: Virgin Records)

The Evolution of Mariah Carey - Mariah suffered an all-too-public breakdown — blamed on exhaustion — in the wake of Glitter's disappointing sales and reviews. She returned the following year with one of her most personal albums to date, Charmbracelet.(Photo: Island Records)

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The Evolution of Mariah Carey - Mariah suffered an all-too-public breakdown — blamed on exhaustion — in the wake of Glitter's disappointing sales and reviews. She returned the following year with one of her most personal albums to date, Charmbracelet.(Photo: Island Records)

Mariah Carey, The Emancipation of Mimi - Mariah Carey put the embarrassment of her 2001 film Glitter (and a subsequent hospital stay for “mental exhaustion”) behind her by reuniting with Jermaine Dupri for this career-saving 2005 blockbuster. (Photo: Columbia Records)

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The Evolution of Mariah Carey - Mariah returned to chart-topping form with her tenth studio album, 2005's The Emancipation of Mimi, selling over 20 million records worldwide.(Photo: Island Records)

Photo By Photo: Columbia Records

The Evolution of Mariah Carey - With 2008's "Touch My Body," her 18th chart-topper, Mariah passed Elvis' record for the most No. 1 singles by a solo artist. Only the Beatles stand in her way now.(Photos from Left to Right: Brad Weingarden/PictureGroup, Bert Reisfeld /Landov

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The Evolution of Mariah Carey - With 2008's "Touch My Body," her 18th chart-topper, Mariah passed Elvis' record for the most No. 1 singles by a solo artist. Only the Beatles stand in her way now.(Photos from Left to Right: Brad Weingarden/PictureGroup, Bert Reisfeld /Landov

The Evolution of Mariah Carey - After the disappointment of Glitter, Mariah proved her talents truly extended to acting after all with her acclaimed supporting performance in 2009's Precious.

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The Evolution of Mariah Carey - After the disappointment of Glitter, Mariah proved her talents truly extended to acting after all with her acclaimed supporting performance in 2009's Precious.

Moroccan and Monroe Cannon - Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon's twins appear to have already inherited their mother's expensive taste, and we wouldn't be surprised if they cried in perfect pitch, too. (Photo: Fresh Air Fund/WireImage)

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The Evolution of Mariah Carey - Sure, Mariah's made some great music, but her greatest creation of all is Dem Babies, her and husband Nick Cannon's twin children Monroe and Morrocan, born in 2011.