3 min readIn December 2024, musical icon Mariah Carey and producer and rapper Anderson .Paak were seen enjoying the holiday season in Aspen. The sighting left fans wondering whether the duo was working together or had something romantic brewing. They were together again in March 2025, further fueling dating rumors. Their most recent sighting was in May 2026, though their current status remains unclear.
Both stars are reportedly single. Paak filed for divorce from his former wife, Jae Lin Chang, in January 2024 after 14 years together. He and Chang share two sons, Soul Rasheed and Shine Tariq.
Carey was last romantically linked to choreographer Bryan Tanaka, whom she dated on-and-off from 2016 until the end of 2023, when they finally called it quits.
Here’s the timeline of Carey and Paak’s relationship so far.
June 2024
In June, the producer shared a “day in the life” TikTok in which he stopped by the Electric Lady recording studio and found Mariah Carey waiting for him.
“You ever be starstruck? Like when a star strikes you?” he said over footage of him meeting the star.
The next segment implied they were working on something together musically. They ultimately released a duet together.
December 2024
On December 23, TMZ reported that Carey and Paak had dinner at Catch Steak in Aspen. The publication wrote that they were seen holding hands as they entered the steakhouse and that at one point, he had his arm around her waist.
They were then spotted getting dinner in Aspen again on Sunday, December 29, at Mediterranean restaurant Duemani. Carey wore a black dress under a black fur coat, with sheer black tights and leather boots. Once again, they were holding hands as they exited the venue.
March 2025
On March 17, Carey and Paak kept the dating rumors going at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards. Paak escorted Carey onstage to accept the Icon Award, and the two were seated together alongside her children, Monroe and Moroccan Cannon.
TMZ reported that Paak and Carey really are collaborating on music. The outlet notably acknowledged the dating rumors too but didn’t dispel them.
May 2025
On May 3, .Paak made an appearance on the Track Star show hosted by Jack Coyne, where guests listen to music and identify the artists. The rapper was wearing a T-shirt with Carey on the front, and Coyne played her 1995 song “Always Be My Baby.”
“This would be Mariah Carey. The Mariah Carey,” he identified after listening. “I remember like, fifth grade or something, just watching the music video and having a huge crush.”
When asked if they might ever collaborate on new music, he replied, “We’re working on some music. On her new album.”
September 2025
In an interview on CBS Mornings, Carey coyly responded to the photos of her and .Paak holding hands in Aspen around Christmas last year. “He just likes to hold my hand,” she said in the September 24 broadcast. “He just grabs my hand—I don’t know what he’s doing.”
She added that their bond must be “something special” if they were seen together during Christmastime—a season that’s synonymous with Carey. But she skirted around confirming an official relationship, saying, “.Paak is just part of the “hand-holding club.’”
She also revealed that they collaborated on her new album, Here For It All, after she reached out to him. “He’s brilliant,” she said. “He’s really a great artist.” The project, which came out on September 26, features their duet titled “Play This Song.”
May 2026
In footage shared by TMZ that was taken on May 7, .Paak and Carey were seen at Century City Mall after a showing of The Devil Wears Prada 2. The two stars were holding hands, and both were dressed well for their outing. .Paak was in a black suit and button-down while Carey wore a black miniskirt and matching jacket with some appliqué sparkles.
