Nick Cannon Admits Being Insecure During Marriage to Mariah Carey: “I Had to Confront Who I Was” [Video]

Nick Cannon has made a name for himself in the entertainment industry. From hosting his own television series to starring in hit films, Cannon has built a reputation as a self-made celebrity. But, his marriage to one of the biggest pop icons had him questioning his identity and self-worth.

During an interview with Ray Daniels on “The GAUDS Show,” Cannon recently opened up about the challenges that he faced during his marriage to Mariah Carey.  Tying the knot to Carey in his late twenties, Cannon entered into something far beyond anything he could’ve imagined.

“I didn’t actually care what the world thought… but I had to confront who I was,” Cannon said.

His marriage to the “Heartbreaker” star introduced him to a world of fame, luxury, and public backlash.  However, as he navigated his new glamorous lifestyle, he found himself struggling with his place in the relationship.  Despite his many achievements, Cannon learned that being known as “Mariah’s husband” was overshadowing his personal accomplishments.

“I got married in my 20s to the biggest star in the world,” he continued. “My trajectory was here and then hers; she’s already in a different stratosphere. I would lay up at night thinking like ‘Is this who I am? Am I Mariah’s man? Is that where my life is supposed to be?’ There’s nothing wrong with it, but this ain’t the hustle.”

Cannon added, “When you have children, your man s**t is like, wait…I’m carrying a purse, the diaper bag, I’m standing on the corner. She rocking being the alpha that she is…I’m just not that dude.”

Additionally, Cannon said that even though he noticed that he wasn’t being “the dude that God put” him on this planet to be, Carey never made him feel bad for lacking.

“The love kept me there,” Cannon said “Even made it work so well cause I was like, ‘Oh, you need somebody. You need a support system. You need somebody that don’t want you for your money. You need somebody that’s sincere, and that’s willing to build a family,’…but there was something constantly in me.”

Cannon and Carey married in April 2008 and divorced in November 2016.