<span style="font-size:10.5pt;">Before they teamed up for Precious, director Lee Daniels produced little-seen 2008 Mariah Carey flick Tennessee. The film was finally released on DVD earlier this year, and Rap-Up.com has posted Mariah's excellent cover of Kris Kristofferson's "Help Me Make It Through The Night"—which was apparently recorded for the Tennessee soundtrack but never made it in. Listen below.

Back in March when the Angels Advocate remix album was shelved, we lamented that Mariah needs to figure out what type of artist she wants to be. An urban diva with a hip hop edge? A pop balladeer?

And upon hearing Mimi's version of "Help Me Make It Through The Night"—which has been covered by Jerry Lee Lewis, Sammi Smith, Gladys Knight & The Pips and Johnny Cash with wife June Carter—we have to say this confirms that her strengths do seem to fall into the tender balladeer category.

It truly is a beautiful, haunting song, and Mariah gives it just the right amount of wistful vocal power here. A full album of this, please.

Listen to the song here.</span>

Edited May 19, 201015 yr by Sylph

They are using some sort of trick lens to make Mariah look less pregnant/fat in this holiday special. Why bother?

I was wondering about that, like how far along was she/when was this taped. She always wears those dresses that look like teddys so they bell out helping to conceal her tummy a bit anyway. I noticed that Nick wasn't there, maybe he was working, but I couldn't help but wonder if there's some contractual thing where he can't appear in non-NBC primetime.

Last night I really noticed how much Mariah's style is inspired by Karen Clark Sheard. She also had her old bg singer the wonderful Melonie Daniels with her. Melonie's the lightskinned one who was on the far right, she sings the opening theme to the sitcom Half & Half and is an amazing gospel artist.

Maria is, apparently, interested in The X Factor. But then, there's the rumour of Tommy Mottola coming.

Edited December 14, 201014 yr by Sylph