Mariah Carey bombed on New Year’s Eve and the reason is unimportant. Whether or not equipment failure played a role remains to be seen. The truth is, the legendary pop diva flubbed her number as millions of revelers watched in person and on television. But it’s never too late for a return to success. Mimi should stage a comeback similar to what Elvis Presley did in 1968, which proved to be a huge smash for the King of Rock and Roll.

If faulty gear caused Mariah Carey’s recent lip syncing blunder on NYE, nothing was stopping the singer from throwing the microphone away and just winging it with a few bars from one of her songs, or something, anything. That gesture of professionalism would have shown how she earned her prestigious first name only status, like Aretha, Madonna and Cher. But Mariah had no intention of turning lemons into lemonade. Screw the fans and the party goers. Instead of being a magnanimous celebrity hero, Mariah turned into a self-indulgent cartoon who cannot take the heat.

Instead of donning a bathing suit that looked like she was trying too hard, the five-octave ranged phenomenon should ditch the skin action and the karaoke mime for real live tunes. When Elvis Presley’s career hit a lull, his comeback special was just what the doctor ordered, no pun intended. With a little help from some friends, Elvis came across as genuine and his talent spoke for itself. He was live and unplugged way before MTV. Look it up. Hey, if it was good enough for Elvis, why not Mariah? She could do the same thing with a few famous friends. But maybe Mariah can no longer pull it off. Why would she lip sync, having such a high caliber voice?

A week after the debacle on ABC’s broadcast of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, the Long Island-born artist said she was “humiliated” and “foiled” by Dick Clark Productions and then blamed an improperly working earpiece. Naturally, DCP was angered by Mariah’s allegations and denied any role in the fiasco. With all due respect, some are saying okay Mariah, enough already with the livingroom sized clothes closets, the rooms just for shoes and trying to compete with JLo’s measurements and start belting out some great songs again. That would shut everyone up. Considering Mariah took heat after getting caught lip syncing during 2014’s Chanteuse tour in Japan and then at Rockefeller Center two months later, it seems she does not have a choice.

Photo: Mariah Carey sings at the Neighborhood Ball in downtown Washington, D.C., Jan. 20, 2009 – TSgt Suzanne M. Day/derivative work: Adabow/public domain/Creative Commons (CC); usage of photos does not constitute endorsement by the authors and sources.