Mariah Carey Turns 42: Plus a Look at Other Over 40 Musicians Whose Careers Are Still Thriving

Mariah Carey celebrates her 42nd birthday on March 27, 2012. The singer's career has continued to thrive over the last couple of decades and she seems to be unstoppable. The past year may have been one of the best for her personally as well, having given birth to twin babies last spring. The diva and her husband, Nick Cannon, welcomed a son and daughter into the world on their third wedding anniversary, April 30, 2011.

Earlier this month the Grammy winner returned to the stage for the first time since her children were born, singing a number of her hits during the short performance, from "Hero" to "We Belong Together" to the Jackson 5 cover "I'll Be There." She was said to have comeback in her usual style, changing her shoes after singing two songs and touching up her hair and makeup wearing a sleek, sleeveless black dress, "all in front of an eager audience."

The birthday girl seems nowhere near to retirement, but there are many other musicians still going strong well after the age of 40.

Madonna is 53 years old and performed at this year's Super Bowl halftime show. Despite an obscene gesture by the British hip-hop artist M.I.A. who was onstage with her, it was an overwhelming success. The "Material Girl" has the energy and body of someone half her age. She came out sporting an Egyptian ensemble with spiked black boots and headdress, putting on a spectacular show fit for only a superstar.

One of the few who was not pleased with the "Like a Virgin" crooner was Piers Morgan who commented, "...it was like watching your mad drunken aunt at Christmas, wasn't it?" Most of us tend to disagree with that derog! atory re mark. While the blonde diva is known for making some rather rude comments over the years, she's definitely still got it as far as her music career goes.

Steven Tyler is still rocking after four decades of exciting performances onstage with his band Aerosmith. Earlier this month he commented that if he wasn't such a "perfectionist and taskmaster" the band wouldn't be ay it. The sexy singer turned 64 years old on March 26 and just seems to keep on going and going. If anything, his career has skyrocketed to even greater heights with his success as a judge on "American Idol."

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