Mariah Carey Makes a Stunning Entrance (with 6 Buff Escorts!) to Essence Music Fest Performance

staff@people.com (Janine Rubenstein and Blake Bakkila)
Updated

Mariah Carey just took "making an entrance" to a whole new level.

Carey, 46, took mainstage at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome for the Essence Music Fest in New Orleans on Saturday night. And in her classic diva fashion, she brought all the glitz and glam to her festival debut.

The star was carried onto the stage on a chaise lounge – with a little help from six buff male dancers. She started her 75 minute show in a bedazzled silver body suit and later changed into a similar pink number with a big, poofy bow train.

Mariah Carey Makes a Stunning Entrance (with 6 Buff Escorts!) to Essence Music Fest Performance| So So Def, Essence Music Festival, Mariah Carey, Mariah Carey: Greatest Hits, Da Brat, Jermaine Dupri, Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey Makes a Stunning Entrance (with 6 Buff Escorts!) to Essence Music Fest Performance| So So Def, Essence Music Festival, Mariah Carey, Mariah Carey: Greatest Hits, Da Brat, Jermaine Dupri, Mariah Carey






And the performance did not go without some surprises and fun on stage.

At one point, Carey pulled a lucky fan up on stage, blindfolded him and teased a lap dance – but it never happened. She also had special guests Jermaine Dupri and Da Brat help her perform the So So Def remix of "Honey."

Mariah Carey Makes a Stunning Entrance (with 6 Buff Escorts!) to Essence Music Fest Performance| So So Def, Essence Music Festival, Mariah Carey, Mariah Carey: Greatest Hits, Da Brat, Jermaine Dupri, Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey Makes a Stunning Entrance (with 6 Buff Escorts!) to Essence Music Fest Performance| So So Def, Essence Music Festival, Mariah Carey, Mariah Carey: Greatest Hits, Da Brat, Jermaine Dupri, Mariah Carey



Mariah Carey Makes a Stunning Entrance (with 6 Buff Escorts!) to Essence Music Fest Performance| So So Def, Essence Music Festival, Mariah Carey, Mariah Carey: Greatest Hits, Da Brat, Jermaine Dupri, Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey Makes a Stunning Entrance (with 6 Buff Escorts!) to Essence Music Fest Performance| So So Def, Essence Music Festival, Mariah Carey, Mariah Carey: Greatest Hits, Da Brat, Jermaine Dupri, Mariah Carey


The performance was not all crowd-pleasing, though. She was late to the stage and also took at least five breaks during her set.

"I'm trying to get used to this stage," she said during the show as she tip-toed across the stage in sparkling sky-high red Louboutins.

One thing Carey didn't have to try? Getting her fans in on the show. The star sang some of her throwback hits, including "Always Be My Baby" and "Honey" and the crowd joined in for a Superdome sing-along.