Mariah Carey Dazzles During First Post-Pregnancy Performance

Singer Performs Hits at NYC Event, Shouts Out 'Dem Babies'

Just 10 months after giving birth to twins Moroccan and Monroe, a soulful and slender ("30 lbs [less] on Jenny Craig," according to her rep) Mariah Carey returned to the stage with a set at New York's Gotham Hall on Thursday night (Mar. 1). The performance was part of Caesar's Entertainment's "Escape To Total Rewards" launch event, which also featured performances by Lil Wayne, Maroon 5, Sara Bareilles and other artists simulcast from cities like Los Angeles, Chicago and New Orleans.

Backed by a full band and four more-than-game backup dancers, Mimi strutted across the stage in a tight black dress and clutched a diamond-encrusted microphone over the course of her 40-minute set. In between triumphant renditions of hits like "Always Be My Baby," "We Belong Together," "I'll Be There" and "Obsessed," Carey gave a shout-out to her husband Nick Cannon, who was in the building; got her makeup touched up onstage by a crack team of cosmetic specialists; and spoke candidly about Moroccan and Monroe, whom she referred to as "dem babies."

"Do I bring dem babies out?... They should be in bed!" she told the crowd. "I really wanted to bring them here tonight, but Monroe is sometimes shy and takes a while to warm up to an audience."

Nostalgia has a way of tugging at one's chords, emotionally and vocally. Last night, Mariah Carey blinded her loyal fans of their inability to professionally sing and ignore the consideration of those around them, singing along as if in their own private shower stalls. The highlight of the night came at the end of the show when Carey closed her set with her ballad, "Hero." All, femmes and men, forgot of the morning after's vocal repercussions and sang along from the top of their lungs.

Before Carey strolled onstage, Sean "Diddy" Combs delivered a scattershot performance to the New York crowd, rollicking through songs like "All About the Benjamins," "Mo' Money Mo' Problems" and "Coming Home." Former Spice Girls member Melanie Brown was on hand to serve as emcee at Gotham Hall.

(Billboard)