Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon leaving Mr Chow's restaurant, Los Angeles, California - 19.02.09

The couple wed last April (08) after a whirlwind courtship, leaving many to speculate about the strength of the union.

But Cannon had no doubts he was making the right decision after failed romances with Christina Milian, Selita Ebanks and Kim Kardashian - because he knew Carey was the one.

He tells U.S. news show Extra, "I was the biggest Mariah Carey fan ever. Every time I'd do interviews and they'd ask, 'Who is your celebrity crush?? I was like, 'Mariah Carey! I've gotta meet Mariah Carey!'"

And Cannon and Carey, who turns 39 today (27Mar09), are thrilled they've been able to prove all the doubters wrong.

He adds, "The first year of marriage was amazing. I'm looking forward to the second year. It's one of those things, it went by so fast... We're proving people wrong! They said we wouldn't make it. We're making it."

Source: WENN