At the 2026 MusiCares Person of the Year gala, the Foo Fighters and Taylor Momsen stunned the audience by unearthing a hidden chapter of music history: Mariah Carey’s clandestine foray into ’90s grunge.
The star-studded event, held Friday night (Jan. 30) at the Los Angeles Convention Center, honored Carey for her monumental contributions to the industry. Among a night of high-caliber tributes, the most unexpected moment came when Dave Grohl’s legendary rock outfit joined forces with the Pretty Reckless frontwoman to perform tracks from Carey’s secret 1995 alternative project, Someone’s Ugly Daughter.
Long considered an urban legend until Carey confirmed its existence in her 2020 memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey, the album was originally released under the pseudonym “Chick.” While Carey’s friend Clarissa Dane provided the lead vocals on the studio recordings, Carey secretly handled the harmonies and art direction. On the MusiCares stage, Momsen stepped into the spotlight to lead the band through a gritty, high-energy rendition of the heavy-hitting “Hermit” and the alternative-pop track “Love Is a Scam.”
The performance also served as a triumphant return for Foo Fighters guitarist Pat Smear, who had been temporarily sidelined by a foot injury during the band’s recent appearances. This collaboration between Grohl and Momsen follows their powerful 2022 pairing in Los Angeles, where they joined members of Nirvana and Soundgarden for a haunting tribute to the late Taylor Hawkins and Chris Cornell.
The evening featured a diverse roster of talent paying homage to Carey’s vast catalog. Jennifer Hudson opened the festivities with a sweeping medley of the pop icon’s greatest hits, followed by performances from an eclectic group of artists including John Legend, Maggie Rogers, Teddy Swims, Kesha, Adam Lambert, Charlie Puth, Laufey, and Billy Porter.
Accepting the honor previously bestowed upon legends like Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan, Carey described the celebration as “overwhelming in the best possible way.” Surveying the room, she expressed her gratitude for the “friendly and familiar faces” gathered to support her, laughing as she noted the presence of longtime collaborators and figures from her distant past alike.
