Muni Long Says Mariah Carey 'Appreciated' Her "We Belong Together" Tribute

The singer-songwriter said Carey told her she did a "great job" singing despite her viral reaction.

March 20, 2025

Muni Long doesn't think Mariah Carey's viral reaction during her tribute performance was towards her.

On Monday night (March 17), Carey was honored with the Icon Award during the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards. During the awards ceremony, Long covered Carey's 2005 hit "We Belong Together" while Tori Kelly sang a rendition of "Always Be My Baby." But it was at one point during Long's performance that Carey was caught turning towards her guest, Anderson.Paak and giving an exhausted look, which some viewers detected as shade.

But during a TikTok Live on Wednesday (March 19), Long cleared the air, explaining that Carey asked her to sing and even thanked her for the performance.

"The people that's got a lot to say, you don't understand how this paying homage and having respect for people..." the two-time Grammy winner said in the clip below.

"She asked me to do it," Long continued. "You thought I chose to get on TV and sing a Mariah Carey song? You thought that was my choice? Why would I do that? Nobody can sing Mariah's songs like Mariah. Nobody."

"I did my best, and that's all I can do," Long added. The singer-songwriter went on to say that Carey told her she did a "great job" and "appreciated" the performance. "And that's it. Once again, if she pushed me down the stairs if she told me she hated it, I would say thank you. That's what I would say," Long said.

On Wednesday, the Songbird Supreme gave a public thank-you to Long and Kelly on her Instagram Stories.

"So beyond grateful for these two gorgeous, uber-talented, kind, incredible musicians who made my heart so full of joy with their tribute performances at the @iheartradio awards. I love and appreciate you so much!!!" she captioned the photo of them.