Mariah Carey paid £3.5M to sing in the New Year (while Britney scrapes by on £280k)

 She will sing in New York as the famous Time Square ball plunges to mark the start of 2018.

A huge technical malfunction led to embarrassment at last year’s show, with Carey repeatedly stopping singing during the performance, and shown visibly upset as a pre-recorded track played in the background.

A row broke out between her and Dick Clark productions over who was to blame, with the singer claiming there were technical glitches such as a faulty earpiece - and producers accusing her of not rehearsing properly.

Now, after almost 12 months of peace talks – and a contract for more than £3.5million for just half-an-hour on camera – Carey, 48, has agreed to revisit the scene of last year’s disaster
She is not the only superstar after a 2018 payday, although she is getting 12 times more than her rival Britney Spears, who will be heralding in January 1 in Las Vegas
Spears will be paid £280,000 for her singalong – the same fee she earns every night for her residency in the Planet Hollywood casino resort.

Elsewhere, country music icon Willie Nelson, 84, will lead New Year celebrations on stage in Austin, Texas while rock and blues guitar virtuoso John Mayer will count down the clock in concert in Los Angeles.

Both are commanding fees in excess of a million dollars – approximately £740,000 – at major venues, according to promoters.

Trumpeter Chris Botti, hip-hop sensation Cardi B and R&B veteran Macy Gray are also headlining New Year’s shows across the pond, with Cardi B the biggest earner among them, commanding a fee of around £400,000 for a one-hour gig.