Mariah not ready for public return

Mariah Carey had planned to promote her album

Mariah Carey has cancelled a TV interview that was due to mark her comeback from a breakdown, saying she "needs more time to rest".

The singer, who spent two weeks in hospital, called off the prime time interview on an American talk show.

She has raised her public profile slightly since leaving hospital last month after suffering an "emotional and physical breakdown" at the end of July.

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The interview, in which she was due to talk about her personal problems with TV host Barbara Walters, will now not happen on its scheduled 12 September date.

Since leaving hospital, she has been seen at a summer camp which she helps fund, and has left a positive voice message on her website.

Glitter is Carey's first lead movie role

Carey's breakdown was blamed on pressure after the star worked on and was then due to promote two films and an album.

She recently signed what was reported to be the most valuable record contract in history with Virgin.

Her first album under the deal, which is also the soundtrack to one of her films, Glitter, will be released in America and the UK at the beginning of next week.

It had been hoped that Carey would be able to promote the CD - but she is now not expected to make any media appearances at the time of its release.

She has also been accused of launching an attack on fellow chart star Jennifer Lopez just before she suffered her breakdown.

Lack of sleep

She hit out at Lopez for not writing her own material during an interview with Talk magazine.

When asked about Lopez's claim to get eight hours sleep every night, Carey said: "If I had the luxury of not actually having to sing my own songs, I'd do that too."

The release date for the film Glitter has been put back to 21 September in America, and will hit UK screens in November.

Her other upcoming starring role, alongside Mira Sorvino in Wise Girls, will not be seen until next year.

Carey was the biggest-selling artist of the 90s and is best known for hits I'll Be There, Without You, Fantasy and Heartbreaker.