Mariah Carey: 'I didn't know Nicki Minaj sang'

Mariah Carey has claimed that she didn't know Nicki Minaj was a singer.

Responding to comments that her fellow American Idol judge had recorded a song about their recent feud, Carey claimed she didn't know Minaj could sing.



On the track, titled 'Hell Yeah', Minaj sings: "I'm quick to check a bitch that's out of line/ Why these bums so mad that the queen on Idol?"

Carey told Barbra Walters on ABC News: "I don't know. I don't know what she's singing. I didn't know she sang, I thought she rapped or whatever.

"I think [Idol] is a classic, classy show and it didn't need this. I really think it was just a crass moment."

She added: "For me, this is ultimately about the kids, the contestants. I've been blessed to live my dream more than half my life so I want to help give that back to someone else."

The new series of American Idol starts on January 16.

Carey recently performed three concerts in Australia - her first shows in the country for 15 years.

Listen to 'Hell Yeah' below: