Mariah Carey returns to ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’

FILE – In this Dec. 31, 2016, file photo, Mariah Carey performs at the New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square in New York. Carey told Entertainment Weekly in an interview published online Jan. 3, 2017, that she was was “mortified” in “real time” during the disastrous live performance in which she stumbled through several songs. (Photo by Greg Allen/Invision/AP, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — Mariah Carey is determined to have a better New Year’s Eve than in 2016 — she is returning to “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” after last year’s debacle.

The Grammy-winning singer’s live performance in Times Square on New Year’s Eve 2016 was marked by problems. She was visibly upset and at points stopped singing, despite a pre-recorded track playing in the background. The performance went viral for all the wrong reasons.

Afterward, Carey posted a meme of herself on social media with the message “(expletive happens).” But it also led to a public spat between the best-selling singer and dick clark productions as to who was at fault, with Carey’s camp charging sabotage with technical glitches, including faulty ear piece, and dick clark productions denying the claims and charging she hadn’t rehearsed enough.

Now, both sides have kissed and made up.

“We can all agree that last year didn’t go exactly as planned and we are thrilled to move forward together to provide America with an incredible night of music and celebration on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2018,” a joint statement released to The Associated Press said. “See you in Times Square!”

Other performers already announced for the live Times Square performances include Camila Cabello, Nick Jonas and Sugarland.

Carey was the first live headline performer in Times Square for the longtime special in 2005, and that performance went seamlessly. KI