In a remarkable musical crossover event, the Foo Fighters delivered a surprising tribute to Mariah Carey by performing songs from her previously unreleased grunge album during the MusiCares 2026 gala in Los Angeles. The annual charity event, held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, featured an array of artists celebrating Carey's extensive career, but it was the Foo Fighters' segment that provided the most unexpected revelation.
Unearthing Carey's Alternative Past
The performance centered around material from Someone's Ugly Daughter, a grunge-influenced album that Carey secretly wrote and recorded in 1995. This alternative project remained largely unknown until Carey detailed its existence in her 2020 memoir, The Making of Mariah Carey. According to her account, the recording sessions occurred alongside work on her mainstream album Daydream, serving as a creative outlet during challenging periods.
Collaborative Performance with Taylor Momsen
Fronted by Dave Grohl, the Foo Fighters were joined on stage by singer Taylor Momsen for powerful renditions of two tracks from Carey's hidden catalogue: "Love Is a Scam" and "Demented". The collaboration brought a raw, energetic interpretation to songs that had never received a public airing before. Cameras at the venue frequently captured Carey herself in the audience, appearing visibly enthusiastic and singing along to the performances.
Carey originally created the album under the pseudonym Chick after her record label expressed reservations about the material. She recruited her friend Clarissa Dane to provide vocals, effectively creating an alter-ego band that allowed her to explore musical territories far removed from her established R&B and pop sound.
Carey's Reflections on Her Grunge Persona
In her memoir and subsequent social media posts, Carey described the Someone's Ugly Daughter project as both therapeutic and liberating. She wrote about deliberately adopting a character inspired by "the breezy-grunge, punk-light white female singers who were popular at the time", contrasting this with her meticulously maintained public image.
"They could be angry, angsty, and messy, with old shoes, wrinkled slips, and unruly eyebrows, while every move I made was so calculated and manicured," Carey reflected. "I wanted to break free, let loose, and express my misery – but I also wanted to laugh. I totally looked forward to doing my alter-ego band sessions after Daydream each night."
Star-Studded Tribute Lineup
The MusiCares event featured numerous other notable performers interpreting Carey's work across different eras of her career. The lineup included:
- Kesha
- Jennifer Hudson
- Laufey
- Maggie Rogers
- Charlie Puth
- John Legend
Each artist brought their unique style to Carey's catalogue, but the Foo Fighters' exploration of her alternative material stood out as particularly distinctive.
Fan Reactions and Legacy
When Carey first revealed the existence of her grunge album in 2020, it generated significant surprise and excitement among music fans. Many responded with humorous suggestions that she could now claim the title of "queen of alternative music" alongside her established pop diva status.
One social media user quipped at the time: "The Mariah Carey alternative album feels like The Missing Piece. Like if I had this album in the 90s, by now I'd have serotonin, a house, the ability to not be so self-critical." The MusiCares performance has reignited interest in these long-hidden recordings and sparked renewed calls for their official release.
The event successfully highlighted the breadth of Carey's musical influences and the unexpected connections between seemingly disparate genres. By bringing her secret grunge project to life through one of rock's most prominent contemporary bands, the tribute created a unique moment in modern music history that celebrated artistic experimentation and genre defiance.
