Mariah Carey released her album The Emancipation of Mimi in 2005. It was her tenth studio album and marked a major commercial comeback after a difficult period in her career.
The album’s standard edition was released internationally in stages, beginning in Japan on March 30, 2005, followed by other markets and the United States in April. Its lead single, “It’s Like That,” introduced a more energetic sound, while “We Belong Together” became one of Carey’s defining hits, spending 14 weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.
The Emancipation of Mimi topped the Billboard 200 and became the best-selling album in the United States during 2005. It earned several Grammy nominations and won Best Contemporary R&B Album, along with awards for “We Belong Together.”
A common mix-up is the album’s multiple regional release dates: some references list March 30, April 4, or April 12. Those dates describe different markets, but the album year is consistently 2005.