Mariah Carey: 'George Michael's death took a toll on me'

30 November 2018, 17:10 | Updated: 30 November 2018, 17:13

Mariah Carey has opened up about her friendship with the late singer.

Speaking to Pitchfork, the American singer revealed that George Michael's sudden passing on Christmas Day in 2016 "took a toll" on her at the time.

When asked how she has managed to survive when other stars like George and Whitney Houston haven't, she said: "It’s really about a great support system and working with people who understand and try to create a good environment.

"Hopefully, those people will also understand stress is really a killer. When we have lost some of our greatest, it’s really taken a toll on me, as someone who grew up watching them and being inspired by them.

"You mentioned George Michael. I remember before my first album, even in high school, the Faith album, I looked at that and said, 'I want to make an album that crosses all these genres.'"

She continued: "We had a lot of things in common in terms of record company political stuff. I remember this one dinner that we had.

"We were both talking about really difficult stuff that we’d been through. And when he passed away on that Christmas, I couldn’t believe it because I thought he would be able to be OK."

Mariah previously performed a cover of 'One More Try', to which George revealed he was a big fan:

Meanwhile, a tribute concert for George is being organised by his former backing band.