Mariahland.(Mariah Carey)

Byline: --HANNAH MORRILL

Who? Mariah Carey. What? The April cover of allure , shot by Michael Thompson. When? January 14. Where? Lux Studio in New York City, a ten-minute Maybach ride from Carey's TriBeCa triplex. Why? The five-time Grammy Award winner's newest album, E=MC2 , is out this month. Making an Entrance: The singer walked into the studio with her four-month-old Jack Russell terrier J. J. under her arm. (Her assistant and bodyguard carried her bags.) "No, no--don't get up! You're all eating," she told the allure crew, who had just sat down for lunch. (Her assistant had called earlier to let everyone know that she'd be a little late for the 11 A.M. shoot.) In the Pink: The singer changed from her street clothes--a down Moncler jacket and skinny jeans--into a pink dressing gown she had brought with her, then settled in for hair and makeup. "I wanted to give her dramatically raised brows," said makeup artist Brigitte Reiss-Andersen. "She made us laugh because she could make the exact face we were going for." For the Record: Carey put a copy of her new album--with tracks produced by will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas and Jermaine Dupri--on the studio's sound system. She asked the studio manager to replay the song "Side Effects" as she sang along. Afterparty: Thompson took his last photograph at 10:30 P.M., but the night was just getting started for Carey. She sipped Pinot Grigio from a champagne glass, changed into her jeans and ankle boots, and discussed her plans to go to a friend's birthday party. Just before midnight, the singer slipped out the door to her waiting car.

Hair ...