Carey On, Regardless

Mariah Carey in January 2013 was back on television every week—newly installed as a judge on American Idol—and operating, as always, at a register the rest of us aren’t cleared for. The voice was intact. The mythology was operational. Nicki Minaj was at the same table and the two of them were already at open war before the first episode had aired. It was probably the most honest American Idol had ever been about what American Idol actually is: a show about famous people having feelings at each other, with some singing in the middle.