Mariah Carey is revisiting one of the most controversial chapters of her career. In a new interview with Variety, the singer admitted that she once “hated” Glitter, the soundtrack album tied to her 2001 film of the same name, describing the project as a painful moment following its initial commercial disappointment.
“I used to hate it,” Carey said while reflecting on the album’s legacy. “I used to be so like, why did I do that? And then, you know, it became something that I really loved, and it just sort of took on its own thing.”
Released in 2001, Glitter arrived during a turbulent period in Carey’s career and quickly became associated with one of pop music’s most infamous industry misfires. The soundtrack, which accompanied the film set in 1983, leaned heavily into post-disco, funk, dance-pop, and R&B influences while incorporating hip-hop collaborations from artists including Ludacris, Da Brat, Busta Rhymes, Fabolous and Ja Rule.
Despite the star-studded lineup, both the album and film were widely criticized upon release. The project debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200, marking Carey’s lowest first-week sales at the time and fueling narratives that the superstar had lost her commercial momentum.
Industry consequences followed quickly. Virgin Records ultimately ended its deal with Carey, buying her out of a then-record $80 million contract, a move that became one of the most discussed label breakups in early-2000s pop history.
Yet time has rewritten much of the story. Over the past two decades, Glitter has gained a dedicated cult following among fans and critics who argue the record’s retro production and club energy were misunderstood in its original context.
Carey herself eventually embraced that shift. In May 2020, she celebrated the album’s arrival on streaming platforms. Another twist has emerged this year. Earlier in 2026, Glitter quietly disappeared from several streaming services, prompting renewed online discussion about the album’s complicated legacy.
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