Carey is being praised for her role in Wisegirls

It is also reported that Warner Brothers are interested in signing the star.

Doug Morris, the chairman of Universal, which owns Def Jam, said he was keen to win a contract to represent Carey.

"I'm not sure who'll get it, but we have a very good chance," Morris said.

Until last year Carey could do no wrong. She had notched up more number one songs in the US than anybody except Elvis Presley and the Beatles.

She had signed a five-album deal with EMI Virgin worth a reported �70m.

But the first album of the deal, Glitter, failed to sell in large numbers and her performance in the movie of the same name was also derided.

Looking up

She also suffered an emotional breakdown which led her to check into a clinic to recover.

The singer was placed in psychiatric care in August after suffering from "extreme exhaustion".

However, 2002 is looking better for Carey. She is winning critical praise for her latest movie role as a waitress in the mob comedy Wisegirls.

Variety magazine said she showed "charm and relaxed assurance".

The singer was discovered serving tables at the age of 18 by Sony boss Tommy Mottola.

The couple married and he helped her become one of the biggest selling singers in recent history.

However, after the break-up of the marriage, she quit his label Sony for EMI's Virgin.