Nick Cannon Goes Shirtless For Men’s Magazine

Who knew Nick Cannon had specs (and other things hanging out I see)? Ha! No seriously.

Mr. Cannon showed off his physique in the latest issue of Men’s Health Magazine. He talks being a first time dad, his wife Ms. Mariah Carey of course, being called Mr. Carey and returning to his roots as a stand up comic. Here’s a bit of that interview.

Men’s Health: You’re about 6 months into your new gig as a first-time dad. Can anything truly prepare guys for that role?

Nick Cannon: You know what? You talk to your parents. That’s probably what I did the most. It gives me even greater respect for my parents, just because I never thought about what they were going through when I was a youngster. I feel like everyone who raised me did a great job, so why not get the best advice for them?

MH: Is it fun, in a sense, that you and Mariah sometimes have no clue what you’re doing as parents?

NC: I think I’m actually built for fatherhood. I love to have a good time and play, but at the same time I’ve got a really serious side to me, and I think that’s the balance you have to have. Get on your kids’ level, but at any point in time, let them know who the parent is. You have to understand balance, and be willing to grow and learn from them daily.

MH: What’s the toughest part about being married to another star?

NC: There’s not enough space in the mirror. We’re both always checking ourselves out. [Laughs]

MH: Mariah’s such a strong-willed woman with really high standards. What advice do you have for men who want to date someone like that?

NC: I think it takes a strong man to be in a relationship with a strong woman. A lot of people hear the word “diva” and think of it as a negative. I see it as a positive. I want somebody who knows what they want out of life and isn’t afraid to show it. Confidence is probably the sexiest thing to me, and my wife is definitely confident. But it can be intimidating if you’re not a strong individual—and I’m up for the task.

MH: A lot of men say they lose some of their mojo after settling down and starting a family.

NC: Oh man, I think it’s the exact opposite. Obviously my wife has made me such a better person. She’s made me more attentive. She’s made me more detail-oriented. She’s made me more caring and loving. And from that, I’ve become sexier. I’ve noticed that I get a lot more attention now. After all, they always say that married men are more attractive than single men.

MH: You’ve been doing standup comedy since you were a kid. How did you learn to be such an open, honest, person on stage in front of crowds full of strangers?

NC: I think my father kind of encouraged me at an early age. He thought I was really funny, but I never was afraid to say what was on my mind. You hit it right on the head—it’s all about honesty. If you’re not afraid to be honest, you can be the funniest person in the world. People think that as a celebrity, you have to have this sort of mystique about you, but I’m probably the realest person you’ll ever meet.

MH: What’s the realest thing you talk about in your new standup special, “Mr. Showbiz?”

NC: Probably how I deal with people calling me “Mr. Mariah.”

MH: Okay, Mr. Mariah. How do you deal with it?

NC: I embrace it! There are a lot worse things I can be called, and I love the fact that people refer to me as that. You want to call me a boy toy? Damnit, I’ll be the best boy toy I can possibly be. I’ll be the boy toy with the kung-fu grip.

I still think (like most of you) Nick Cannon is one of the corniest actors, comedians, rappers etc etc. etc. But there has to be special about the man. He snatched up Mariah Carey, dated Christina Milian and was engaged to Selita Ebanks so…..a girl wonders ;-).

Good luck with everything Nick.

Hmmmm…. but seriously, would anyone really pay to see Nick’s standup routine?