I usually don’t have an opinion on Nick Cannon. I think he and Mariah Carey work in some strange way, and I’ve been vaguely surprised that they continue to make it as a couple. But I generally thing of Nick as simply one of Mariah’s accessories – like, he doesn’t have his own personality or anything, he needs Mariah to make him complete as a man and as a celebrity. I’m not saying my general feeling is right or true, just that he’s sort of bland without Her Royal Butterfly. But this interview has made me like Nick. This interview has made me think that Nick is surprisingly ballsy – because when Mariah hears about this, she’s going to be PISSED.
Nick Cannon wants to keep the number of celebrities in his household to a minimum.
The America’s Got Talent host, 30, says he will “absolutely not” let his 4½-month-old twins, Moroccan and Monroe, follow in the famous footsteps of him and wife Mariah Carey.
“I just want them to strive for something greater than entertainment,” Cannon told PEOPLE backstage after Wednesday’s AGT’s season finale. “I’m one of those believers in teachers, professors, heart surgeons. That’s what I’m rooting for. If I could get a scientist, that’d be amazing.”
Even though fame isn’t the path Cannon wants his children to take, he says it’s the right road for him and Carey.
“My wife is so understanding because she’s just as busy and just as focused as I am, so it’s kind of like the perfect match,” he says. “I love my career and I love being in entertainment, so it never really feels like an occupation.”
Still, Hollywood isn’t top priority for Cannon. “Being a father and being a husband comes first,” he says.
“Everybody knows I’m obsessed with my wife,” he gushes. “I’m married to Mariah Carey. It doesn’t get better than that. I’d be an idiot to do anything wrong. I worship my wife. Have you seen my back? My back says ‘Mariah Forever.’ “
[From People]
“I just want them to strive for something greater than entertainment. I’m one of those believers in teachers, professors, heart surgeons. That’s what I’m rooting for. If I could get a scientist, that’d be amazing.” I love you, Nick. That’s it – push for education. Push for science and math. Push for engineering. Do you think the whole “my kids won’t be in show business” thing will upset Mariah? I don’t actually think Mariah will push the kids into entertainment, but she’ll probably encourage their inner butterflies and such. Plus, at least one of them probably has a good singing voice, right?
And here’s that HSN video, just because.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
They seem so sweet.
That is the most refreshing thing I’ve heard from a celebrity parent in a while. It may not work, but the sentiment is excellent.
It’s nice to see that he doesn’t want his kids to be celebrities or whatever, but what if they WANT to have an entertainment career? What if all they want to do with their life is to perform?
It’s nice to say that he prefers education and everything, but what if his children just aren’t cut out to be scientists or doctors? It’s kind of already setting their lives out for them, and if they fail, they always have interviews like this to look back on.
“I’m married to Mariah Carey. It doesn’t get better than that.”
Well….
These are just his hopes for his kids. They’re too young for him or anyone to know what they’ll be. Like any parent, they have their own wishes for their children that will change as the kids grow older. At least he’s starting from a good place.
ok, I really like him now too.
Why this statement gives hope is because he will at least be a balance to any stage-momming that may occur on the Mariah side.
It’s one thing for a child to discover a passion for entertainment, it’s another thing entirely to be White Oprah’d into it.
@Erinn: I don’t know. I see the comment as more of a statement that he believes in his children (or will) and will support them in their endeavors, instead of being a stage dad. I give him absolute credit for that. And it’s nice to see a man who adores his wife so much and doesn’t clamor for attention for himself. They are an odd couple, but I still find them refreshing (Mimi on her own? – not so much. But as a couple, sure.)
I never really had any problems with Nick Cannon especially before he married Mariah Scary! But I have no clue why people have to marginalize a man because he loves his wife. To use the term accessories is a low blow.
Aside from his cheating phase, I’ve always kinda liked him. Its great to see a man in love with his wife and seemingly commmitted to her and his family. He goes on as if he’s so lucky to be with Mariah but I hope she realizes what she has and is grateful. She is amusing but she’s got to be a bit much at times!
Anyway, most of my comments are on that video! LMOL! What in the world! When is this FROM?!! Mariah is a NUT! I have a hard time believing that wasn’t a scripted comic routine. It would be so interesting/fun just being around her in real life for a day. She’d have me cracking up (although she’d probably tell me off for laughing at her all the time). Seriously, it’s like she’s ON something! Did she have an epidural with the twins? How long do the effects of an epidural last?
Oh and have the twins been seen yet? And if not how DID they manage to do that? Those pics are gonna be worth a LOT by the time they come out, I hope its not dangerous. We may end up having to call those twins Blanket 2 and Blanket 3!
@Irishserra
I hope that it’s just a case of the not wanting to be a stage dad thing. I find it refreshing to think that he isn’t going to push them in showbiz, but I hope he also doesn’t just push them to ONLY be satisfied with a job that requires a good education. I know my family pushed me into University, and when I dropped out to pursue a community college program, I really felt like I was letting them down even though that’s what I wanted to do. Hopefully they’ll grow up to be bright kids and not have to worry too much about Hollywood, or becoming a surgeon (unless of course they wanted to).
There’s been a remarkable lack of pimping out the twins, so I’m kind of impressed with them both.
I never really liked him before but that statement deserves a standing ovation.
Saw America’s Got Talent last night and I thought he was hilarious! Didn’t know he was funny. I like him
Wow, I’d never watched that clip before. She sounds totally exhausted (poor dear) or medicated.
Yup, I think there were probably some harsh words exchanged after Nick’s comments. But I also think it’ll all work out.
The way he puts it makes me envision him sitting in front of a slot machine after having gotten lemon-lemon-janitor one too many times but I absolutely love what he said. Good for him. I really hate seeing celebrities pretty much push their progeny into entertainment. I think if you put their type of resources in front of just about any kid, they’d say they wanted to have all the glam and glitz and recognition.
Good for him. He sounds like he is going to be an awesome Dad.
Looks like Mariah needed a “camouflagian” (see the video above) moment in the second photo with the bandage belt/visible girdle.
i have always had respect for nick, because he respect his wife, regardless, she may be nutty lol but still.
Can I say again that Mariah looks 30 years old … in part because she’s got some weight on her, which makes her face look youthful. What a cherub!
I still don’t get how being a haggard twig with chemicals and fillers shot into your face is more attractive than looking naturally younger and healthier with an extra 10 pounds.
If by entertainment he also means: parasitic offspring of people who once had careers, then he gets double stars next to his name on teh board 😉
I don’t really think Mariah is this ditzy bimbo in “real” real life. This chick is tough.
And I believe the children will turn out just fine and will be supported by both their parents to get a good education. After all, Mariah put her nephew through Harvard law school. That’s saying something at least.
I will always love that HSN video
“I just want them to strive for something greater than entertainment. I’m one of those believers in teachers, professors, heart surgeons. That’s what I’m rooting for. If I could get a scientist, that’d be amazing.”
this sounds a bit like pandering to me.
good for them, Ima gine these words being uttered out of a dina lohan type??? who lives off the misery of her children and piumps them out until their are a shell of a human being. The difference being that both Mariah anf Nick already have established careers therefore they dont need to feed off their children like that lohan leech
He can say this now because they’re babies and has since before he even confirmed that he and Mariah were having twins in the first place but he’s also said if one of them were bitten by the bug to follow in mommy or daddy’s footsteps that he would support them. ever heard of family dynasties like the Redgraves the Mills The Fondas ect
ITA – it’s so refreshing to hear a celeb say they don’t want or plan to foist their children on us as fabulous entertainers regardless of said child’s actual talent.
it’s even more refreshing after Kate Gosselin’s stupid comment implying that people are mediocre parents for not having jobs as celebrities
So she wants her kids to have normal lives, but named one of them “Moroccan Cannon?”
I never got the joke about Cannon being an assessory either. Before he marriage to Carey the guy worked and still does. Yes he was a young guy who cheated on his gf and then grew up and continued to work. He might not have Carey money but he does alrig for himself. So if was a deadbeat abuser, we would find him sexy?
He seems like a great guy
um Nick has said this since before the twins were born it’s nothing new and there have been other celeb parents through the years that have said simillar things until their children showed talent in a field of entertainment so you can never tell but when one or both of the parents are icons it’s another story for example Nell Newman was a child actress in the late 60’s early 70’s then graduated from Cornell university with a degree in Ecology/business and now runs Newman’s Own Organics which like Newmans Own her dad’s company donates all it’s proceeds to charity
I think they agree on, and respect each other more, than we’ll ever know about. I think they are really doing all right. I was a little worried at first with the quick marriage, but I have a feeling they knew they were meant for each other when they met, and it’s working. What do I know, but that’s the feeling I get.
When was the pic of her in the brown dress/black belt taken? She looks absolutely stunning there. Mariah looks so fabulous because she has some meat on her bones so her face doesnt look drawn and tired like every other celebrity. Hollywood should take notes.
Oh…and I dont think that Mariah will be pimping out her kids and stage-momming them. She has always kept her family and loved ones close to her heart and doesnt ever really talk about her relationships. I also adore them together and I think they are very much in love.
I’ve been really impressed with Nick Cannon when I’ve seen him in interviews. He says he calls forth things into being by speaking it outloud, as written in the Bible. He said he would say outloud he would marry Mariah one day (and that’s before she knew him) and the Universe conspired to make it all happen. So maybe it will work with his children also.
I’m impressed with his comments. I abhor celebrity parents like Will and Jada Smith or wealthy parents who didn’t teach their children, such as the Hiltons and Kardashians, that knowledge is more important than fame whoring. Yes, I understand why so many people want to be in the entertainment business. But there are nobler professions and if your family already has millions of dollars, what is the need to leak a porn tape or force a child or pre-teen to go on tour when they should be in school or at home studying? At least Nick and Mariah have their priorities straight at home. Even if their children choose to go into entertainment, it is important that there is emphasis on education and knowledge at home so that they can remain grounded despite their fame and wealth.
I get a bit tired of people instantly dismissing Nick Canon or acting like he’s some lackey of Mariah’s.
Yes, he’s younger and yes, they’re an odd couple, but a few seconds on Google will show you that he’s been working for years and is now the Chairman of TeenNick and a consultant for the entire network (not to mention other stuff he’s involved in).
I think it’s really unfair that achievements like that are constantly overlooked in favour of cheap pot shots.
Even sites that focus on the black community and are constantly putting up lists of young black men to look up to forget him. Why? He’s a dedicated husband and father and successful in his own right. Why the lack of respect for this guy? I don’t get it.
@ shaishai, hear, hear, I like Nick as well, and think that he is a pretty special guy. I loved him in Drum Line years ago, and thought he was destined for some kind of fame and fortune.
Hats off to Nick, and to Mariah, lots of luck and love to both!
Oh, and what new parent doesn’t pontificate on what their progeny will be when they grow up? And aren’t we all wrong?? People are pretty much wired at birth in the direction they will head, and much of it is genetic!!!
Awesome thing to say but I have to arch my brow a little at the names they gave these kids and NOT expect them to be in show business. Moroccan? Really? But I love that they push for science. It’s one thing to push for education but it’s always seems that celebs show for liberal arts. I’ve rarely heard any of them say go into math or go into chemistry.
Well I guess that’s cool of him to say, and I agree they are a cute couple. Hope they stay together happily always.