Mariah Carey: 'Yes, I'm pregnant!' (Video)

It's official:

Mariah Carey

and husband

Nick Cannon

are expecting their first child.

Carey, 41, finally confirmed the world's worst-kept secret in an interview broadcast on NBC's

Today Show

.

In a sneak peek of Carey's Access Hollywood three-part interview due to air in the US this week, the diva says: "Yes, we are pregnant. This is true.

Carey said that after months of media speculation, she decided it was time to come clean.

"At this point, there is no choice. I either talk or I hibernate," she said.

"It's been a long journey, but it's been tough because I've been trying to hold onto a shred of privacy, and that is not easy," said Carey, who also revealed that she suffered a miscarriage right after she wed Cannon in 2008.

"It kind of shook us both and took us into a place that was really dark and difficult," she said. "When that happened... I wasn't able to even talk to anybody about it. That was not easy."

Cannon, 30, said "it definitely brought us closer together. It strengthened our relationship so much... She handled it so well."

Carey said she wants to keep the sex of the baby a surprise - even to her and Cannon - but the couple isn't sure they'll able to handle the suspense.

"The greatest gift on earth is a child," Cannon said. "We've had names picked out from the first day we met and we want to stay true to that."

In the interview with

Billy Bush

, which will air in the US today, Carey also reveals that the baby was conceived naturally, not IVF.

They couple also refused to name her due date, saying: "It's still early," Carey said, adding "We're expecting in the spring, let's say that. I don't want to give too much specific outlines."

Tongues began wagging that Carey was in a delicate state after she dropped out of

Tyler Perry

's drama

For Colored Girls

"because her doctor advised her not to" take part in the project.

She was then snapped

in August wearing a maternity dress, prompting even more speculation.

Speaking through her rep

Cindi Berger

at the time, Carey said: "I appreciate everyone's well wishes. But I am very superstitious. When the time is right, everyone will know - even Cindi Berger."

And Cannon was just as evasive, saying, "I've said it before and I'll say it time and time again - when my wife feels like talking about whatever she wants to talk about, you will hear it directly from her," he said on his radio show.

"Honestly ... I say this to you so you can tell whoever it is you've got to tell, we all know it's extremely personal, and it is for a woman to deal with things with her body, and especially when dealing with the idea of childbirth and all that stuff."

Congratulations to them both!

Blogger Bites Back

* Read more celebrity news and gossip from Myrddin Gwynedd

here