MARIAH CAREY - CAREY LAUGHS OFF HOUSTON DUET RUMOURS

MARIAH CAREY has rebuffed speculation she plans to record a duet with WHITNEY HOUSTON, in a bid to reignite the troubled singer's career. Houston has been dogged by reports questioning her health and alleged drug use in recent months, but Carey insists she is not aware the I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU star is experiencing any problems. She says, "I did not say (we'd record this duet), because to me that sounds like I'm saying she has a problem, and I wouldn't say that. I haven't spoken to Whitney in a long time. "When I knew her, she was really fun and cool and just one of the most talented people in the world, so, of course, I support her, but I would never say she's going through a hard time because she never told me that."