Mariah Carey has been hospitalised ahead of performance

Mariah Carey is in hospital with a bad case of the flu. Photo / Getty Images

Mariah Carey is in hospital after coming down with the flu.

The 45-year-old singer is reportedly being treated with fluids and vitamins after taking ill on Tuesday and is expected to recover soon, according to TMZ.

Carey is scheduled to perform at Hot 97's Hot for the Holidays party at the weekend, so decided to seek medical help in order to ensure she recovers in time.

Meanwhile, Carey, who spent Thanksgiving with her former husband Nick Cannon and their four-year-old twins Moroccan and Monroe - recently opened up about her instant connection with new love James Packer.

She explained: "We first met in Aspen. A couple years ago we were at the Hercules premiere. We were talking and laughing and people were getting mad at us and stuff like that. So we hit it off. I'm lucky too. He really is [great]."

Whilst insisting she doesn't usually talk about her beau because she is a "private person", she shared: "He's a great person. He's just an incredible guy. He really is a good person, and that's hard to find.

"I think anybody that's a friend of his would say the same thing, if not more, so I can't say enough nice things about him. He's just a spectacular guy."

-BANG! Showbiz