Brenda K. Starr: Creating Starrdom For Myself & Mariah Carey Too

In this powerful and emotional episode, Brenda K. Starr sits down to open up about her incredible journey from a young dreamer in NYC’s Upper West Side to a chart-topping singer who helped shape Latin pop and R&B. Raised by a single Puerto Rican mother of seven, Brenda shares how her entire family rallied behind her dream of stardom from acting at 12 to landing her first record deal at just 13. Brenda reveals the story behind introducing her then–backup singer Mariah Carey to industry exec Tommy Mottola, a move that would change music history forever and her own life’s path. After being dropped by her label to focus on Mariah and facing hard times, Brenda found herself working everyday jobs, on welfare and relying on pure hustle to feed her two kids, all without ever asking for help. Now, decades later, Brenda reflects on her resilience, her pride in creating a Spanish-language album despite not being fluent, and her continued passion for performing and releasing new music. Her story is one of perseverance, legacy, and pure heart. ❤️✨See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.