• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
How Mariah Carey unknowingly saved a fan's life on 9/11

Home> Celebrity> News

Updated 08:11 12 Sep 2024 GMT+1Published 22:43 11 Sep 2024 GMT+1

How Mariah Carey unknowingly saved a fan's life on 9/11

Mariah Carey released a new album on that day

Yasmeen Hamadeh

Yasmeen Hamadeh

Mariah Carey indirectly saved a fan's life during 9/11.

On September 11, 2001, two planes crashed into the North and South Towers — the Twin Towers — of the World Trade Center in New York after being hijacked by members of terrorist organization Al-Qaeda.

A third plane also crashed into the Pentagon and a fourth into a field in western Pennsylvania after passengers took control of the plane.

Excluding the hijackers, 2,977 people died in the attacks.

Advert

The World Trade Center in New York was hit by two planes in the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
The World Trade Center in New York was hit by two planes in the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

While many survivors have horrifying recounts from what is largely considered to be one of the biggest tragedies in American history, one person has a chilling story on how Mariah Carey unknowingly saved her life that day - by releasing a new album.

On September 11, 2001, Carey released her eighth studio album Glitter, a soundtrack to a movie musical of the same name.

At the time of its release, Glitter was largely panned by critics, but has now come to be considered a cult classic by fans.

Advert

In a 2023 interview with The Messenger, one fan, Sara Botkin, revealed that Carey 'saved' her life on 9/11 after she'd decided to go out and buy Glitter before going to work at the World Trade Center's South Tower.

Sara Botkin credits Mariah Carey for saving her on 9/11 (WPXI-TV)
Sara Botkin credits Mariah Carey for saving her on 9/11 (WPXI-TV)

"I would probably tell [Mariah Carey], 'You saved my life'," Botkin told the outlet. "I believe it was mostly good luck, and I do think that album may have saved my life."

Botkin worked on the 105th floor of the South Tower, and by stopping to buy the album, she was late for work.

Advert

In another interview with WPXI, she explained that when the first plane hit, she was still on the concourse about to get on the building's elevator.

"New York is such a noisy city, I didn’t immediately think terrorist attack or airplane”, she said.

"I just sort of paused and looked around. In a few moments I started to see distinguished-looking men in suits start running and yelling, and thought, okay, something is happening."

Carey's album Glitter was released on 9/11 (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
Carey's album Glitter was released on 9/11 (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)

Advert

Those in the lobby were instructed by building security to go up to their offices as they thought it would be safer.

"That was the tragic thing about that day is that we were being told that our building was secure," Botkin said, before explaining how she instead decided to follow her instinct and escape with a few other men who had pushed past security to get out.

"When I looked outside it was a stunning scene, it looked like New Years Eve, just all the debris in the air, papers flying," she added.

Botkin also told The Messenger that she'd got a signed Glitter CD from Carey after she heard about her story.

Advert

Botkin said Carey later sent her a signed CD (WPXI-TV)
Botkin said Carey later sent her a signed CD (WPXI-TV)

"Shortly after 9/11, about a week later, I received a signed CD and a photo in the mail with a message that said, 'God bless.' That meant a lot to me. I remember thinking how everyone was calling and emailing me," Botkin said.

"I love her self-titled album. I thought Glitter was great. I know it was not popular. It was a throwback to the 80s."

On how buying Carey's album saved her, she told WPXI: "I think it’s got to be luck.

Advert

"So many people said God was watching out for me that day. And I believe in God, but I can’t think that He would be a God that would watch out for all those people who lost their lives. Fathers and daughters and mothers and sons.

"So, I just think I was really lucky."

Featured Image Credit: Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images / WPXI-TV

Topics: Mariah Carey, Terrorism

Yasmeen Hamadeh
Yasmeen Hamadeh

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

3 hours ago
4 hours ago
a day ago
2 days ago
  • 3 hours ago

    Sharon Stone details surprise date with this notable rapper and it's left people absolutely speechless

    Sharon Stone has opened up about the rumor

    Celebrity
  • 4 hours ago

    Lil Tay claims women over the age of 25 who still work in 9 to 5 jobs are a 'failure' amid OnlyFans career move

    Lil Tay made more than $1 million dollars in just a few hours after opening up an OnlyFans account

    Celebrity
  • a day ago

    Superman actor Terence Stamp dies aged 87 as family release emotional statement

    The Oscar-nominated actor has tragically passed away

    Celebrity
  • 2 days ago

    Sophie Turner details moment she unintentionally caused celebrity couple to break off engagement

    Turner admitted that a misunderstanding led to the couple breaking up

    Celebrity
  • Mariah Carey shares the tragic final moments of mom who died on same day as sister
  • Mariah Carey shares tragic news of her mom and sister passing away on the same day
  • Mariah Carey called out for 'lip-syncing' at AMAs performance as fans say there's one 'obvious' sign
  • Mariah Carey speaks out about ‘rough weeks’ after her mom and sister died on the same day