Mariah Carey Addresses Anderson .Paak Relationship Status: ‘He Just Likes to Hold My Hand’

Mariah Carey finally addressed the status of her relationship with Anderson .Paak, but fans looking for definitive answers will have to keep searching.

The Grammy winner, 56, discussed her connection with .Paak, 39, during a CBS Mornings interview that aired Wednesday, September 24. Host Gayle King asked about the duo’s collaboration on the upcoming single “Play This Song,” and Carey explained that she “reached out” to .Paak about the duet.

When King, 70, asked why Carey chose .Paak, she replied, “He’s brilliant. … He’s a really great artist.”

King went on to ask about pictures that have shown Carey and the Silk Sonic singer holding hands, but the “Honey” artist declined to offer many specifics.

“He just likes to hold my hand. He just grabs my hand. I don’t know what he’s doing,” Carey quipped. “He’s [in] a handholding club. That’s what it is.”

When King pointed out that .Paak was seen with Carey at Christmas — famously her favorite holiday — Carey hinted that their relationship isn’t strictly platonic.

“Well, they better know that it’s something special,” the Glitter star said. “It’s Christmas. … He enjoyed it.”

When asked whether she enjoyed her Christmas celebration, Carey replied, “I did! There’s a hot tub there. It was nice.”

Earlier this year, Us Weekly confirmed that Carey and .Paak are seeing each other after connecting last year while working together.

“Mariah and Anderson are dating, they met working last summer and he has always been a huge fan and looked up to her,” a source exclusively said in March. “Their dates have been very far apart because of schedules, but it’s been going on a few months.”

A second insider told Us that the pair are “full-on dating,” adding, “Their relationship started in the studio as they were working on new music together, and it quickly turned romantic.”

While Carey was “never anticipating” a romance, the second source said she was “pleasantly surprised” with how charming .Paak — who “won over quickly” — was. “They have a lot in common and it’s going really well,” the second insider said, noting that they both have children who are teenagers and have “bonded over parenthood and raising kids in today’s day and age.”

Carey shares twins Moroccan and Monroe, 14, with ex-husband Nick Cannon. The former couple split in 2014 after six years of marriage.

.Paak, for his part, shares Soul Rasheed and Shine Tariq with estranged wife Jaylyn Chang. He filed for divorce from Chang in January 2024.

Carey’s new album, Here for It All, includes the collaboration with .Paak and is due out Friday, September 26.