Glitter (soundtrack)

Glitter is the soundtrack to the 2001 film of the same title and the eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. It was released on August 18, 2001, by Virgin Records. Mixing dance-pop, funk, hip hop, and R&B, the album was a departure from Carey's previous releases, focusing heavily on an '80s post-disco sound to accompany the film, which was set in 1983. Carey collaborated with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and DJ Clue, who also co-produced the album. The album features several guest artists, including Eric Benét, Ludacris, Da Brat, Busta Rhymes, Fabolous, and Ja Rule. Upon release, both the album and its accompanying film were panned by critics. Retrospective reviews, however, have been largely positive, with many stating that the album was unfairly maligned. Despite this, Glitter was universally viewed as a commercial and critical failure, leading Virgin Records to drop Carey from the label and buy out her $100 million contract. While the album debuted at number seven on the US Billboard 200, it marked Carey's lowest first-week sales up to that point. Internationally, it topped the charts in Greece, Japan, and South Korea. Several singles were released, including "Loverboy", which served as the lead single and peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100. Subsequent singles failed to make much of an impact on prominent global charts. Nearly two decades after its release, Glitter began to attract wide praise from mainstream critics and developed a cult following. On May 22, 2020, Carey announced the album's release on streaming services; however, it was removed in January 2026 for unknown reasons. A deluxe version is set to be released on October 30, 2026.