The article is, of course, totally a PR agency concoction. After her divorce, Mariah herself said that she had no control whatsoever of any aspect of her life, including what she wore and the way that her hair was done. And as for the quotes, well I've seen her interviewed at length. The term "Brusque Sophisticate" is optimistic--she speaks in monosyllables.

Vocal ability is not necessarily inherited, as anyone who has heard Frank Sinatra, Jr, will afirm, and the article says that Mariah has never studied, either with her mother, or anyone else. But it does give us a real feel for the machine that was behind making her a star--thanks for digging it up, Alice!