Celebrating: Expectant father Nick Cannon picked up some festive balloons today to mark the official announcement of wife Mariah's pregancy
Couple confirm pregnancy after months of speculation
They do not know sex of unborn child
Child was conceived naturally
Pregnant Mariah Carey has opened up about her miscarriage heartache after losing her first baby two years ago.
The singer and husband Nick Cannon ended months of speculation by confirming they are currently expecting a child on U.S. TV early on Thursday.
But as they revealed in the joy, they also spoke candidly about the 'dark' time they endured in 2008.
Mariah, 40, and Nick, 30, revealed they were set to fly out to meet family and friends at in Aspen, Colorado when a last-minute doctors appointment left them devastated.
Happy news: Mariah Carey has confirmed she and husband Nick Cannon are expecting their first child
In a preview of Mariah's Access Hollywood three-part interview due to air this week, Cannon says:'Literally, the day we were supposed to travel to Aspen we had an ultrasound
'Unfortunately that was a time where [the doctor] said, "I'm sorry but the pregnancy is unsuccessful".'
The actor says his wife managed a brave face in front of friends and family. Nick says: 'Even though it was emotional for both of us, that's when I really saw the strength in this woman right here. She just handled it so well.
'And then to get on a plane and have to spend Christmas with friends and family, and no one knew. I felt like everybody was kind of speculating.
Announcement: Mariah's news was shown in a snippet on The Today Show ahead of the full interview being aired on Access Hollywood tonight
'Literally, in a magazine, it said, "They're gonna let everyone know during the holiday".'
'She was so festive and smiling, obviously for the cameras, and spending time with everyone - and then, literally, at night, [she was] crying herself to sleep.' Meanwhile, Mariah says the heartache brought them closer together.
She revealed: 'It was really sad. We had really to absorb this... We really learned a lot just as people.
'It was even more of, like, preparing us to do this because of the way it happened so quickly at first. I think I was sort of in shock 'cos I didn't expect [the pregnancy]... and then when that happened and I wasn't able to even talk to anybody about it, that was not OK, that was not easy.
'I've never really been a very forthcoming person about my personal stuff; it's just not my thing. But, honestly, to me, this type of thing is like, "Ew, weird! Why do I have to talk about this in front of the world?"
Parents-to-be: The couple said they were 'absolutely emotional' about the news
'It's even strange for me to talk to people I know about it, because I just never did. It kind of shook us both and took us to a place that was really dark and difficult.'
Earlier, Mariah ended months of speculation by saying: 'Yes, we are pregnant. This is true.
'It’s been a long journey. It’s been tough because I’ve been trying to hold on to a shred of privacy.'
Access Hollywood's Billy Bush said that Mariah told him the baby was conceived naturally, and added that the couple does not know its sex.
The singer said she felt she had to speak out to confirm the news, adding: 'At this point, there is no choice. I either talk or I hibernate, While Mariah refused to name her due date, she did say: 'It's still early' before continuing, 'expecting is great'.
Nick added: 'The greatest gift on earth is a child. 'We’ve had names picked out from the first day we met and we want to stay true to that.'
Mariah prompted rumours that she was expecting when she stepped out in August wearing a maternity dress.
However, she quickly followed the reports with a statement from her agent Cindi Berger.