What is the name of Mariah Carey's mother, a former opera singer?

Mariah Carey's mother, a former opera singer, is Patricia Carey.

Patricia, born Patricia Hickey, was an Irish-American classically trained opera singer and later worked as a vocal coach. She married Alfred Roy Carey, an aeronautical engineer, and raised Mariah and her older brother Morgan after the couple divorced. Mariah's older sister Alison went to live with their father.

Patricia's musical background strongly shaped Mariah's early life. Mariah began singing at about age three and reportedly imitated her mother's performances of Verdi's opera Rigoletto. Patricia taught her daughter vocal technique but did not pressure her to become an opera singer. Mariah has said that she respected opera but did not regard it as the main influence on her own pop and R&B career.

A common mix-up is confusing Patricia Carey with Alison Carey, Mariah's older sister, or Brenda K. Starr, the singer for whom Mariah briefly worked as a backing vocalist. Patricia Carey is the family member identified as the former opera singer and vocal coach.