Nick Cannon reveals insecurities while married to Mariah Carey: 'It was already in a different stratosphere'

Nick Cannon opens up about his experience with insecurities during his marriage to Mariah Carey.

“I didn't really care what people thought because perception, you know, is what it is. People will love you one day, hate you the next,” Cannon explained during a new episode of the show Ray Daniels presents podcast. “I could care less about that. … But I go to myself with this pressure, 'Who am I?'”

“I got married at 20, you know what I mean? On the biggest star in the world. My trajectory was here,” he added, lowering his hand, “and then hers—she's already in a different stratosphere.”

He noted that he struggled to find his identity outside of the relationship, as well as his sense of masculinity. “I lay there at night thinking, 'Is that me?' Am I Mariah's man? Is this what my life is supposed to be?' There is nothing wrong with that,” he shared. “I'm holding a purse, the diaper bag, and, you know, standing in the corner like, 'Wait.' He's rockin' like an alpha.”

“I think he needs a guy like that. I'm just not that much of a dude,” Cannon concluded, agreeing that she “deserves” to be the “alpha” in her relationships.

Carey and Cannon married in the Bahamas in 2008 and welcomed twins, Moroccan and Monroe, in April 2011. The five-time Grammy winner and comedian separated in 2014 and their divorce was finalized in 2016. Cannon still has nothing but glowing words to say about the superstar singer. “I get a lot of that good vibe,” he said The Shade Room in 2023. “She is always happy, always doing for others. It doesn't matter what happens in life. I'm like, “Wow, a person can really function like that and not let negative energy into their space.” When I found out, for how remarkable she was, this woman is not human. It is a gift from God.

The masked singer The host has since had 10 more children. He shares twin sons Zion and Zillion, as well as daughter Beautiful Zeppelin with Abby De La Rosa. Golden Sagon, Powerful Queen and Rise Messiah with Brittany Bell. Zen — who died in December 2021 — and Hello Marie with Alyssa Scott. and Onyx Ice Cole with LaNisha Cole. Most recently, she welcomed her son Legendary Love with Bre Tiesi.