Nick Cannon Says Ex Mariah Carey Is 'Still One of My Best Friends' After Joking 'She Don't Want Me' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Nick Cannon (left); Mariah Carey (right).Photo:FOX via Getty; Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage

FOX via Getty; Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage

It’s officiallyMariah Careyseason, and there’s nothing but love from her exNick Cannonas the holiday season kicks into full gear.While serving meals at theLos Angeles Mission’s Thanksgiving celebration on Wednesday, Nov. 27, Cannon, 44, tells PEOPLE that he’s “already started” planning for Christmas, as he reveals he will be “trying to get to the snow as much as possible” forhis 12 kids' sake.“A little bit of the East Coast, a little bit of Aspen, a little bit of Big Bear, Santa’s Village — I’ll be all over for the month of December,” he shares.Cannon knows, too, that this season means listening to a whole lot of Carey, who hemarried in 2008anddivorced in 2014after they welcomedtwins, Moroccan and Monroe, now 13.“She’s Miss Christmas and clearly there’s no negating that,” he says. “And we’re all family, so it’s all love. [She’s] still one of my best friends in life.“Nick Cannon is seen at The Los Angeles Mission’s 88th Thanksgiving Celebration on November 27, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.Hollywood To You/Star Max/GC ImagesTheMasked Singerhost even shared which of Carey’s Christmas songs are his favorite, and while “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is absolutely on the list, he says that “Oh, Santa” is another one of his go-to’s."‘Oh, Santa’ is my joint. I think she wrote that about me,” he jokes. “Don’t say nothing. I think she was talking about me, or maybe some guy named Saint Nick.“Monroe Cannon, Nick Cannon, Moroccan Scott Canon and Mariah Carey attend the Moroccan Scott Cannon and Monroe Cannon Party on May 13 in Los Angeles, California.Rich Polk/FilmMagicThe love for his ex-wife comes nearly four months after Cannon toldE! Newsthat they “belong together” and he would “absolutely” get back together with her. “[I’d] be stupid if I wouldn’t,” he said in August, before admitting that there’s just one flaw in his plan: “She don’t want me.“He echoed that same sentiment in a September interview with PEOPLE, as he again said, “She don’t want me” and added that “she’s moved on from my crazy antics.“He also admitted that “dealing with me must be madness” as he reflected on co-parenting not just with Carey, but withthe five other partners with whom he shares 10 other children. “At the end of the day, if you put the kids first and remove ego, you can do anything,” he said.Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon.Christopher Polk/GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.At Wednesday’s event in L.A., Cannon also opened up to PEOPLE about his recent diagnosis with narcissistic personality disorder as he said he “kind of always knew” that he was “neurodivergent.““I feel like there’s so many labels out there, but it’s like,to be able to embrace it and say, ‘Look, I’m healing. I need help. Show me.’ I just embrace mental health and therapy in such a strong way,” he said of his diagnosis. “To be able to say I’m an example for others, but also be healing during the self-process works too.”

It’s officiallyMariah Careyseason, and there’s nothing but love from her exNick Cannonas the holiday season kicks into full gear.

While serving meals at theLos Angeles Mission’s Thanksgiving celebration on Wednesday, Nov. 27, Cannon, 44, tells PEOPLE that he’s “already started” planning for Christmas, as he reveals he will be “trying to get to the snow as much as possible” forhis 12 kids' sake.

“A little bit of the East Coast, a little bit of Aspen, a little bit of Big Bear, Santa’s Village — I’ll be all over for the month of December,” he shares.

Cannon knows, too, that this season means listening to a whole lot of Carey, who hemarried in 2008anddivorced in 2014after they welcomedtwins, Moroccan and Monroe, now 13.

“She’s Miss Christmas and clearly there’s no negating that,” he says. “And we’re all family, so it’s all love. [She’s] still one of my best friends in life.”

Nick Cannon is seen at The Los Angeles Mission’s 88th Thanksgiving Celebration on November 27, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.Hollywood To You/Star Max/GC Images

Hollywood To You/Star Max/GC Images

TheMasked Singerhost even shared which of Carey’s Christmas songs are his favorite, and while “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is absolutely on the list, he says that “Oh, Santa” is another one of his go-to’s."‘Oh, Santa’ is my joint. I think she wrote that about me,” he jokes. “Don’t say nothing. I think she was talking about me, or maybe some guy named Saint Nick.”

Monroe Cannon, Nick Cannon, Moroccan Scott Canon and Mariah Carey attend the Moroccan Scott Cannon and Monroe Cannon Party on May 13 in Los Angeles, California.Rich Polk/FilmMagic

Rich Polk/FilmMagic

The love for his ex-wife comes nearly four months after Cannon toldE! Newsthat they “belong together” and he would “absolutely” get back together with her. “[I’d] be stupid if I wouldn’t,” he said in August, before admitting that there’s just one flaw in his plan: “She don’t want me.”

He echoed that same sentiment in a September interview with PEOPLE, as he again said, “She don’t want me” and added that “she’s moved on from my crazy antics.”

He also admitted that “dealing with me must be madness” as he reflected on co-parenting not just with Carey, but withthe five other partners with whom he shares 10 other children. “At the end of the day, if you put the kids first and remove ego, you can do anything,” he said.

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon.Christopher Polk/Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

At Wednesday’s event in L.A., Cannon also opened up to PEOPLE about his recent diagnosis with narcissistic personality disorder as he said he “kind of always knew” that he was “neurodivergent.”

“I feel like there’s so many labels out there, but it’s like,to be able to embrace it and say, ‘Look, I’m healing. I need help. Show me.’ I just embrace mental health and therapy in such a strong way,” he said of his diagnosis. “To be able to say I’m an example for others, but also be healing during the self-process works too.”

source: people.com