While it’s a wrap on Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon’s romance, the two remain connected through their children.
And while their interpersonal relationship has ebbed and flowed over the years since their 2016 divorce, Mariah and Nick have found their rhythm when it comes to co-parenting their 14-year-old twins Moroccan and Monroe, nicknamed “Roc” and “Roe.”
“How do I say this?” Mariah mused in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar published July 29. “They spend time with him, and they have a good time; they spend time with me, and they have a good time.”
The 56-year-old continued, “I want to make sure I’m always fair about the situation because it’s tough to grow up with divorced parents.”
The moment marked a rare occasion in which Mariah—who sparked romance rumors with Anderson. Paak in December—addressed her dynamic with Nick, who is dad to 12 children in total.
Meanwhile the Drumline alum, for his part, has often spoken to his history with the Grammy winner.
In addition to admitting to E! News in August he would “absolutely” get back with Mariah—noting, “We belong together”—Nick has previously shared insight into his mindset during the pair’s eight-year marriage.
“I got married in my 20s to the biggest star in the world,” Nick said during an October appearance on the Ray Daniels Presents podcast. “I would lay up at night thinking, ‘Is this who I am? Am I Mariah’s man? Is that what my life’s supposed to be?’”
The 44-year-old continued, “There’s nothing wrong with it. And I got really comfortable in it. She got islands, I’m waking up at noon and I’m being served steaks on a platter.”
Nick further explained—in addition to feeling like he needed to be his own main character—that welcoming Roc and Roe put things into a new perspective.
“Then when you have children and the hierarchy of man s–t is like ‘Wait, I’m carrying the purse, the diaper bag and I’m standing on the corner waiting,’” he explained. “She’s rocking being all the alpha that she is.”
And while he doesn’t fault Mariah for who she is, he began to wonder whether his own accomplishments—including his role as chairman at Nickelodeon and at Island Def Jam—were only because of his wife’s connections. He added that his diagnosis with Lupus also created a shift, and the realization, “I have so much to do.”
He then quipped, “That’s probably why I have 12 kids now.”
For more on Nick’s sprawling family tree, keep reading.
Children No. 1 and 2: Moroccan Cannon and Monroe Cannon
Mariah Carey gave birth to her and Nick’s twins on April 30, 2011. The two announced their split in 2015 after six years of marriage and finalized their divorce a year later.
Child No. 3: Golden “Sagon” Cannon
Beauty queen Brittany Bell gave birth to her and Nick’s first child together, a boy, on Feb. 21, 2017.
Child No. 4: Powerful Queen Cannon
Brittany and Nick welcomed their second baby together, a girl, in December 2020.
Child No. 5 and 6: Zion Mixolydian Cannon and Zillion Heir Cannon
DJ Abby De La Rosa gave birth to her and Nick’s twin boys on June 14, 2021.
Child No. 7: Zen Cannon
Model Alyssa Scott welcomed a baby boy with Nick on June 23, 2021.
However, just five months after the arrival of their son, Nick shared the devastating news that Zen had passed away from brain cancer. “Alyssa was just the strongest woman I have ever seen,” he said on the Dec. 7 episode of The Nick Cannon Show. “Never had an argument, never was angry. She was emotional when she needed to be but was always the best mom and continues to be the best mom possible. So I’ve got to say thank you to my entire family but specifically to Alyssa.”
“You never know what someone is going through,” he added. “Hug your family. Kiss somebody. Tell them you love them.”
Child No. 8: Legendary Love Cannon
Model Bre Tiesi welcomed her first child with Nick on June 28, 2022. The baby boy weighed 8 pounds and 10 ounces at birth.
“I did it. An all natural unmedicated home birth,” Bre shared in a July 2022 Instagram post. “This was the most humbling / limit pushing yet awakening and completely empowering experience. I can’t thank my team enough for delivering my son safely.”
Child No. 9: Onyx Ice Cole Cannon
Nick and model LaNisha Cole welcomed a daughter on Sept. 14, 2022.
Child No. 10: Rise Messiah Cannon
Brittany gave birth to her third child with Nick on Sept. 23, 2022.
Child No. 11: Beautiful Zeppelin Cannon
Abby gave birth to a baby girl, her third child with Nick, in November 2022.
Child No. 12: Halo Marie Cannon
Alyssa gave birth to her and Nick’s daughter on Dec. 14, 2022.
The model shared an Instagram video showing the Wild ‘n Out star helping to deliver their baby. “Our lives are forever changed,” she wrote. “Zen is in every breath I take. I know his spirit was with us in the room that morning. I know he is watching down on us. He shows me signs everyday. I will hold onto this memory forever.”
She continued, “I will remember the sound of Nicks voice saying ‘it’s a girl’ and the look of everything we’ve been through flash across his face. I will remember the sound of her crying out with her first breath and feeling her heartbeat against mine. My sweet girl, I got my surprise!! We love you Halo Marie Cannon!”
