Mariah Carey Is One Of The Greatest Artists Of All Time — Here Are Her 100 Best Performances

From 1990 to 2020.

Mark Baker / Sony Music Archive via Getty Ima

Mariah Carey is one of the best singer-songwriters of all time. As a vocalist, there is no one like her. Her voice hasn't just inspired a few along the way — it's inspired generations of artists. Most people know her hits (how could you not?), but not everyone knows just how many flawless, powerful, and moving performances she has. 

With a career ranging three decades, Mariah has performed to sold-out stadiums of adoring fans, small rooms of skeptics, award show audiences of fans and naysayers alike, and just about every person in this country at some point. Featuring her iconic whistle notes, unbelievably elastic runs, and inimitable tone, these are her top 100 performances. 

I tried not to include too many or overuse certain tour dates — like, every performance at Madison Square Garden and Tokyo Dome is perfection — so don't be upset if certain performances had to be cut. 

This may have been the hardest countdown process, but here it is, Mariah's top 100 performances. Check out the top 10 for some explanations.

100. "Chain of Fools" (Divas Live, 1998)

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99. "I'll Be There" (Sydney, 2013)

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98. "#Beautiful" (Macy's Parade, 2013)

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97. "Against All Odds" (Oslo, 2016)

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96. "Can't Let Go" (Vegas, 2018)

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95. "Vision of Love/Hero" (New Year's Eve, 2017)

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94. "Endless Love" (Royal Albert Hall, 2019)

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93. "Make It Happen" (Los Angeles, 2009)

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92. "I'll Be Luvin' U Long Time/Touch My Body" (Teen Choice Awards, 2008)

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91. "I Stay In Love" (American Music Awards, 2008)

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90. Impromptu Performance (Jimmy Fallon, 2013)

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89. "Crybaby" (Milan, 2000)

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88. "The Distance" (Fallon, 2018)

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87. "It's Like That" (VH1, 2005)

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86. "I Wanna Know What Love Is" (X-Factor UK, 2009)

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85. "Star-Spangled Banner" (2002 Super Bowl)

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84. "A No No / Always Be My Baby / Emotions / We Belong Together / Hero" (Billboard Music Awards, 2019)

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83. "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" (Homecoming Special, 1999)

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82. "Heartbreaker (remix featuring Missy Elliott)" (Oprah, 1999)

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81. "Vision of Love" (Tokyo, 1998)

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80. "Always Be My Baby" (Mariah's home studio, 2020)

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79. "Hero" (Mariah's home studio, 2020)

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78. "Mariah's Tangent" (Gold Coast, 2013)

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77. Medley of Hits (American Idol, 2013)

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76. "Anytime You Need A Friend" (Wetten Dass, 1994)

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75. "Endless Love" (Acapella moment, 2019)

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74. "O Come All Ye Faithful" (ABC Christmas Special, 2010)

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73. "Make It Happen" (Zurich, 2003)

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72. "Vision of Love" (Anaheim, 2006)

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71. "Honey" (Hawaii, 1998)

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70. "Saving Grace" (Oprah, 2002)

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69. "O Holy Night" (Beacon Theatre, 2014)

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68. "I'll Be There" (Thanksgiving Special, 1993)

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67. "With You" (American Music Awards, 2018)

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66. "Vision of Love" (Pepsi Smash, 2006)

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65. "Don't Play That Song For Me (Aretha Franklin cover)" (Tattoo Club, 1990)

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64. "Joy To The World" (Disney, 2004)

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63. "Make It Happen" (Live 8, 2005)

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62. "Butterfly" (David Letterman, 1998)

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61. "My All" (Milan, 2000)

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60. "Reflections" (Home For The Holidays, 2001)

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59. "Joy To The World" (Beacon Theatre, 2014)

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58. "O Holy Night" (ABC Christmas Special, 2010)

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57. "We're Not Makin' Love Anymore (featuring Michael Bolton)" (1990)

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56. "Vision of Love" (GMA, 1990)

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55. "Emotions" (Worcester, 1993)

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54. "All I Want For Christmas Is You" (Tokyo Dome, 1996)

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53. "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" (GMA, 1991)

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52. "Vision of Love" (Amsterdam, 2019)

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51. "Dreamlover" (Grand Gala Du Disc, 1993)

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50. "I'll Be There" (Home For The Holidays, 2001)

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49. "Open Arms" (Tokyo Dome, 1996)

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48. "Joy To The World" (St. John The Divine Cathedral, 1994)

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47. "Always Be My Baby" (MSG, 1995)

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46. "Never Too Far/Hero" (Hall Park, 2001)

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45. "Hero (featuring Pavarotti)" (Pavarotti and Friends, 1999)

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44. "My All" (Pavarotti and Friends, 1999)

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43. "Endless Love (featuring Luther Vandross)" (Royal Albert Hall, 1994)

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42. "With You I'm Born Again (featuring John Legend)" (Save The Music, 2005)

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41. "Someday" (MTV Unplugged, 1992)

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40. "Can't Let Go" (Soul Train, 1992)

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39. "Make It Happen" (Divas Live, 1998)

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38. "All In Your Mind (Acapella)" (SNL, 1990)

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37. "One Sweet Day (featuring Boyz II Men)" (MSG, 1995)

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36. "Caution" (Paris, 2019)

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35. "My All" (Divas Live, 1998)

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34. "Got To Be Real (featuring Patti LaBelle)" (Hammerstein Ballroom, 1998)

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33. "Fantasy" (MSG, 1995)

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32. "My All" (SNL, 1997)

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31. "Vision of Love" (SNL, 1990)

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30. "Forever" (MSG, 1995)

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29. "Hero" (Capitol Hill, Washington, 1996)

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28. "Vision of Love" (Tokyo Dome, 1996)

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27. "I Don't Wanna Cry" (Tokyo Dome, 1996)

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26. "Without You" (MSG, 1995)

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25. "Make It Happen" (Mariah Carey Live, 1993)

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24. "Vision of Love" (MSG, 1996)

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23. "We Belong Together" (BET Blueprint, 2005)

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22. "Without You" (March Carey Live, 1993)

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21. "When You Believe (featuring Whitney Houston)" (Oprah, 1999)

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20. "You and I (Tribute to Stevie Wonder)" (BET Walk of Fame, 2002)

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19. "Vision of Love" (BET Blueprint, 2005)

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18. "Vanishing" (SNL Rehearsal, 1990)

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17. "Underneath The Stars (Tokyo Dome, 1996)

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16. "Anytime You Need A Friend/Remix" (Tokyo Dome, 1996)

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15. "Emotions" (MTV Unplugged, 1992)

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14. "Hero" (MSG, 1995)

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13. "Love Takes Time" (Tattoo Club, 1990)

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12. "Hero" (Rotterdam, 1996)

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11. "Somewhere Over The Rainbow/If Only You Knew (Patti LaBelle Tribute)" (Essence Awards, 1998)

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10. "We Belong Together / Fly Like A Bird" (Grammys, 2006)

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"Don't call it a comeback, 'cause I never left." Well, yeah. If the whole "comeback" narrative of Mariah's career was true, this Grammy performance would have encapsulated it. It was 2006, and The Emancipation of Mimi was a monster record. She had multiple Grammy nominations and wins, and it was time to show the doubters she could still give a show-stopping performance. Of course she could. She's Mariah. She did just that — standing on stage with her: a mic, a few background singers, and her voice. You could tell she was nervous at first, but once she found her groove, she delivered one of the most memorable and iconic performances of her career. As Mariah would say, it was such a moment.

9. "America the Beautiful" (NBA Finals, 1990)

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Looking back on this performance, Mariah once said she watched and was proud. Why? It was the first time on national television that Mariah went for the whistle note. And we're so glad she did. Watching this, fans weren't just proud, they were in awe. After Mariah nails the piercing whistle, the announcer declares, "The palace now has a queen." Yes, it did. And so did the music industry.

8. "I'll Be There" (MSG, 1995)

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The whisper register of Mariah's voice is inimitable, and she's really leaned into it more as her voice matured. But it started in the '90s — and in my opinion, it always sounds best in performances of "I'll Be There." When she sings, "You and I must make a pact," I still get goosebumps. She turns the Jackson 5 hit into an even bigger hit. Yes, the MTV Unplugged version is iconic and went to No. 1 on the charts, but this performance at MSG, to me, is even better. She sings to the sold-out arena and uses her whispering vocals, crisp high belts, and genius musicality to deliver a duet that no one is topping any time soon — or ever, really.

7. "Emotions" (VMAs, 1991)

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Only Mariah could add some ad libs at the end of a performance and wind up hitting her highest note ever. During this time, some critics thought she could not replicate her studio vocals. So, she did. And then superseded those, too. Just Mariah things. 

6. "Make It Happen" (MSG, 1995)

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It was the start of Mariah running around while singing. "I see you up there!" she sings to her fans, as she belts with such power, agility, and ease. The standout of this flawless performance? The "Make It Happeeeeeeen" two minutes in. It soars with such amazing vibrato and resonance that you can't help but feel inspired. Just as Mariah wants you to feel.

5. "Vision of Love" (Zurich, 2003)

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People say the Charmbracelet World Tour was Mariah's second vocal prime. You watch this performance, and you'll see exactly why. It was post-2000 drama, and her voice was better than ever. She was belting "Vision of Love" with a whole new style — more power, more confidence, and more difficult notes. We don't have HD footage unfortunately, but there's something to appreciate about the unedited reactions of the audience. You can hear them marveling at her, and you feel a connection to that. Well, more of a jealousy.

4. "The One" (Through The Rain Special, 2002)

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A performance that goes under the radar, "The One" in 2002 showcased her whistle register in full force. Basically, what Mariah did here, no one else can do — even more so than normal. While watching, it looks like she's playing around during the song's climax until you realize she's matching the song's melody with whistle notes, right after nailing her highest live belt ever, an A5.

3. "If It's Over" (Grammys, 1992)

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With smoother-than-silk low notes, resonant high belts, and a risky whistle note that paid off, this performance of "If It's Over" is one of her best performances of the '90s. It was at the Grammys and undoubtedly her chance to show music executives and her music idols her talent. "I can't believe I have to perform in front of Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and Barbra Streisand," Mariah said before the show. And I'm sure they can't believe they got to witness this performance.

2. "Without You" (Tokyo Dome, 1996)

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All performances in the Tokyo Dome were perfection, but Mariah's rendition of "Without You" supported the de facto musical sentiment, "When Mariah covers your song, it isn't yours anymore." It really isn't. Here, she uses her third or fourth lung to belt the chorus of one of the most difficult songs to sing — and made it look as refined and effortless as possible.

1. "Hero" (Toyko Dome, 1996)

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Finding a flaw in this performance is simply impossible. It was 1996 — her vocal prime and six years into her already highly successful career. She had found her footing onstage, and she performed to the crowd of over 50,000 as if it was her hometown church.  From resonant belts that soared to an effortless G5 note, to low notes that rattled the Tokyo Dome, Mariah showcased her emotional voice with the ballad that stuck all these years. She may not have been initially obsessed with the song, but even Mariah can't argue: This song changed music forever.