USA: Thousands of fans line Hollywood Blvd. for a chance to see "Comeback Queen" Mariah Carey

Thousand of screaming Mariah Carey fans lined Hollywood Blvd. Tuesday night (November 15) for a chance to meet their favourite diva. The singer, for her part did not disappoint, arriving for the event outside the Virgin Megastore in a stunning Rolls Royce, before heading inside to celebrate the re-launch of "The Emancipation of Mimi: Ultra Platinum Edition," an expanded version of Carey's best selling album. "I was here all night last night," explained Rachel Galdamez of Los Angeles. "We got here at 7 in the morning and we left here at 1 in the morning. I'm tired, but, we love Mariah." Another fan, William Herrera, also of Los Angeles, said no one compares with the high octane singer. "She's beautiful, her voice is beautiful. I love all her music and words. I know she writes most of her songs, that's what I like about her. A lot of people could relate to her songs, even guys, girls whatever," said Herrera. The night offered more evidence to support Carey's remarkable comeback to superstar status. A reversal that is even more stunning considering the singer had at one point been dropped by her record label. A fact the singer seems to be enjoying. "It's definitely more enjoyable than the first album," Carey told Reuters. "Because, I was so young and I didn't really understand what was going on, it all didn't seem real. It's now better from a grounded perspective." Still, Mariah, whose career highlights include 16 No. 1 hits and more than 150 million albums sold, said she isn't about to gloat. "To me, its not about vindication," Carey said over her screaming fans. "My true fans have been here with me, every career goes through peaks and valleys and that's what it's all about. The bottom line is that I'm a songwriter, a producer, I'm a singer and that's what I do and there are other creative avenues I'm going to take. But the bottom line, is when you can reach your fans and meet them in person, that's the most validation you can have." That and the fact that Mariah's latest album, "The Emancipation of Mimi" has sold over 6 million copies.

ITN Source | November 17, 2005

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