Bryan Tanaka is speaking out about his breakup with Mariah Carey.

On Tuesday (Dec. 26), the backup dancer, 40, shared a lengthy statement on social media about the couple’s split, which he says was a “mutual” decision between them.

“Dear friends and fans, with mixed emotions, I share this personal update regarding my amicable separation from Mariah Carey after seven extraordinary years together,” Tanaka begins the message on Instagram. “Our decision to embark on different paths is mutual, and as we navigate these separate journeys, we do so with profound respect and an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the invaluable time we’ve shared. The memories we’ve created and the artistic collaborations are etched in my heart forever.”

Carey, 54, and Tanaka began working together in 2006 when he appeared as a member of the iconic singer-songwriter’s Adventures of Mimi tour. She confirmed the relationship in an Associated Press interview in February 2017, after she called him her “boyfriend.” Their affair also played out on Carey’s E! reality series Mariah’s World. They started dating in the wake of Carey’s split with her ex-fiancé, Australian businessman James Packer.

Speculation about the couple’s split began after Tanaka had been absent from the “All I Want For Christmas Is You” singer’s Merry Christmas One and All! tour in mid-November, People reports. The publication also noted that he wasn’t celebrating the holidays with Carey, as he usually does, in Aspen, Colo.

Carey had not shared a statement of her own as of press time.

“Mariah’s dedication to her family and her commitment to her craft have inspired us during out journey,” Tanaka continued in his statement. “I want to express my love and appreciation for Mariah and her incredible children, whose warmth and kindness have enriched my life in ways words cannot capture.”

Carey shares 12-year-old twins Moroccan and Monroe with her ex-husband Nick Cannon.

Tanaka added, “During this sensitive time, I kindly ask for your understanding, privacy and respect. The outpouring of love and support from fans has been a beacon of strength, and I am extremely grateful for the encouragement that continues to uplift me. I eagerly anticipate continuing my journey, knowing my passion for inspiration, dance and the creative arts will resonate in the unfolding chapters.”

Read Tanaka’s full statement on Instagram below.

Beginning with Debby Boone’s 1977 smash “You Light Up My Life,” a relatively select few smashes have led the Billboard Hot 100 for at least 10 weeks. How few? Just a mere 4% of all Hot 100 No. 1s dating to the chart’s launch on Aug. 4, 1958, have earned the achievement.

In honor of the singles to claim the Hot 100’s top spot the longest, here’s a look at the elite leaders to rule for double-digit weeks, an exclusive club led by Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, a 19-week No. 1 smash in 2019.

THE LONGEST-LEADING HOT 100 No. 1s
Weeks at No. 1, Title, Artist, Date Reached No. 1

19, “Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus, April 13, 2019

16, “Last Night,” Morgan Wallen, March 18, 2023
16, “Despacito,” Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber, May 27, 2017
16, “One Sweet Day,” Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men, Dec. 2, 1995

15, “As It Was,” Harry Styles, April 16, 2022

14 (to date), “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Mariah Carey, Dec. 21, 2019
14, “Uptown Funk!,” Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars, Jan. 17, 2015
14, “I Gotta Feeling,” The Black Eyed Peas, July 11, 2009
14, “We Belong Together,” Mariah Carey, June 4, 2005
14, “Candle in the Wind 1997”/“Something About the Way You Look Tonight,” Elton John, Oct. 11, 1997
14, “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix),” Los Del Rio, Aug. 3, 1996
14, “I’ll Make Love to You,” Boyz II Men, Aug. 27, 1994
14, “I Will Always Love You,” Whitney Houston, Nov. 28, 1992

13, “The Boy Is Mine,” Brandy & Monica, June 6, 1998
13, “End of the Road,” Boyz II Men, Aug. 15, 1992

12, “Shape of You,” Ed Sheeran, Jan. 28, 2017
12, “Closer,” The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey, Sept. 3, 2016
12, “See You Again,” Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth, April 25, 2015
12, “Blurred Lines,” Robin Thicke feat. T.I. + Pharrell, June 22, 2013
12, “Boom Boom Pow,” The Black Eyed Peas, April 18, 2009
12, “Yeah!,” Usher feat. Lil Jon & Ludacris, Feb. 28, 2004
12, “Lose Yourself,” Eminem, Nov. 9, 2002
12, “Smooth,” Santana feat. Rob Thomas, Oct. 23, 1999

11, “Last Night,” Morgan Wallen, March 18, 2023
11, “The Box,” Roddy Ricch, Jan. 18, 2020
11, “God’s Plan,” Drake, Feb. 3, 2018
11, “Independent Women Part I,” Destiny’s Child, Nov. 18, 2000
11, “I’ll Be Missing You,” Puff Daddy & Faith Evans feat. 112, June 14, 1997
11, “Un-Break My Heart,” Toni Braxton, Dec. 7, 1996
11, “I Swear,” All-4-One, May 21, 1994

10, “Easy on Me,” Adele, Oct. 30, 2021
10, “Butter,” BTS, June 5, 2021
10, “In My Feelings,” Drake, July 21, 2018
10, “One Dance,” Drake feat. WizKid & Kyla, April 23, 2016
10, “Hello,” Adele, Nov. 14, 2015
10, “Happy,” Pharrell Williams, March 8, 2014
10, “We Found Love,” Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris, Nov. 12, 2011
10, “Low,” Flo Rida feat. T-Pain, Jan. 5, 2008
10, “Irreplaceable,” Beyoncé, Dec. 16, 2006
10, “Gold Digger,” Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx, Sept. 17, 2005
10, “Dilemma,” Nelly feat. Kelly Rowland, Aug. 17, 2002
10, “Foolish,” Ashanti, April 20, 2002
10, “Maria Maria,” Santana feat. The Product G&B, April 8, 2000
10, “Physical,” Olivia Newton-John, Nov. 21, 1981
10, “You Light Up My Life,” Debby Boone, Oct. 15, 1977

Lisandro Meza, one of the biggest names in Colombian music, died on Saturday (Dec. 23) at the age of 86, almost three weeks after being hospitalized due to a stroke, informed the Specialized Clinic La Concepción in Sincelejo, in his native state of Sucre, Colombia, where he was.

“La Concepción regrets to report the sensitive death of maestro Lisandro Meza Márquez, minstrel of sabanera music, cumbia, porro, vallenato and disseminator of Colombian music to the world,” the clinic said in a statement signed by its manager, Guillermo Ruiz.

Meza’s family confirmed the passing of their “pillar” on the singer’s official account on X (formerly Twitter,) saying that “his love, wisdom and music will continue to inspire us,” and thanking everyone’s “support and condolences at this difficult time.” The Colombian Ministry of Culture highlighted that “his art embraced cumbia, porro, paseo and vallenato” and that “songs like ‘El Guayabo de la Ye’ and ‘El Hijo de Tuta’ will remain forever in our memory.”

Born on Sept. 26, 1937 in Los Palmitos, Meza became known in the 1950s with compositions that became popular in the Colombian Caribbean, according to El País. In 1965, he joined Los Corraleros de Majagual as an accordionist, a group in which he worked with other greats vallenato singers and songwriters such as Alfredo Gutiérrez and Calixto Ochoa. In 1969, he competed in the Festival de la Leyenda Vallenata and came in second place, after Nicolás “Colacho” Mendoza, but the attendees stated that Meza should have won, and nicknamed him since then “el Rey sin Corona” (“the King without a Crown”,) reports the same newspaper.

Over the decades, Meza recorded dozens of albums, of his own or with other groups, releasing hits such as “Senderito de Amor,” “El Macho,” “El Hombre Feliz,” “Ni que Estuviera Loco,” and many others.

“Maestro Lisandro Meza, on behalf of all the Colombian people, thank you for being born in this land. Until we meet again,” Carlos Vives wrote on his X account, where he also published three photographs of himself with the accordionist and musician.

Other Colombian artists expressed their sorrow for his passing. “Lamenting the death of maestro Lisandro Meza. Condolences to all his family and friends,” wrote Juanes. While Jorge Celedón tweeted: “Maestro #LizandroMeza, a great of Colombian musician, leaves us today. I feel enormous sadness for his departure […] I will always remember that noble hug and greeting every time we met.”

Meza was married for more than six decades to Luz Domínguez and, according to different media outlets, and he was the father of 16 children.

Bobbie Jean Carter, the sister of Nick and Aaron Carter, has died. She was 41.

Bobbie Jean’s sister, Angel Carter, confirmed her sibling’s passing through Instagram on Sunday (Dec. 24).

“To my older sister Bobbie. You had a great sense of humor, and a lively spirit. Growing up, I was your baby, and you were my best friend,” she captioned a montage of childhood photos. “Life wasn’t fair to you, that I know. Sometimes, it feels like you didn’t have a shot, no matter what.”

Angel’s remembrance also referenced the substance abuse-related deaths of her sister Leslie, who died in January 2012 at age 25, and her twin brother, Aaron, who passed away in November 2022 at 34 years old.

“Experiencing innocence instead of being burdened by trauma, pain, and suffering is incredibly important for children, particularly at such a young age,” she continued. “I know why Leslie, Aaron, and now you ended up in the circumstances that you did. I share that pain we experienced during our childhood and I’m sorry you didn’t have an opportunity for a better life.”

The cause of Bobbie Jean’s death had not been provided at press time, but Angel asked her Instagram followers to “break down barriers” and “reduce stigmas” around mental health.

“The generational dysfunction stops now,” she wrote. “Please visit @onoursleevesofficial to learn more about how you can get involved, and how to be there for your loved ones.”

Bobbie Jean served as a wardrobe stylist and makeup artist during Aaron’s tours in the early 2000s, according to TMZ. She also appeared on the Carter family’s 2006 E! reality TV show, House of Carters, where her struggles with addiction and substance abuse were documented. Since then, she has led a relatively private life outside of the spotlight, but was arrested on alleged drug and theft charges earlier this year.

She died in Florida on Saturday morning (Dec. 23), TMZ reports, citing her mother, Jane Carter.

“I am in shock from learning of the sudden death of my daughter, Bobbie Jean, and I will need time to process the terrible reality of this happening for the third time,” Jane told the outlet, referencing the deaths of Bobbie Jean, Leslie and Aaron. “When I am able to think clearly, I’ll release a fuller statement, but until then, I would request to be left to grieve in private.”

She continued, “[H]owever deeply a parent feels the loss of a child, the suffering of a young child at the loss of a parent must be much greater. So, I would ask the sympathetic to say a prayer for my precious 8-year-old granddaughter Bella, who previously lost her father and is now also left without her mother.”

Bobbie Jean is survived by a daughter, Bella.

See Angel’s tribute to her sister below.