Mariah Carey - Contented Wife Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey feels "complete" since marrying Nick Cannon.

The singer - who was previously married to record company boss Tommy Mottola - doesn't understand why people were surprised when she and the TV host wed in the Bahamas last summer following a whirlwind romance and claims the union has boosted her career.

She said: "People were surprised when we got married but it felt like the right thing to do and it wasn't anything out of the ordinary for us.

"I definitely feel more complete than before. There's a void you have when you don't feel you've found the other part of who you are, so I'm in a different place now and that's nice to experience.

"I think being able to collaborate with Nick and being in a really great place in my life is having a great impact on my music."

Despite her successes, Mariah claims her life isn't easy because she is so self-critical.

She added to the Daily Telegraph newspaper: "I'm very hard on myself and I have too many issues. It's difficult for me to be able to relax. I work myself into the ground.

"But I think I am a nice friend and a good person and I try to do my work as best as I can."