*Sporting a ring on her left hand, Mariah Carey, 39, clung to Nick Cannon Saturday night at an afterparty for her new film, "Tennessee," sparking another round of dating rumors, reports People.com.       

       They held hands and stayed by each other's side in the VIP section of New York's Tenjune nightspot.  Asked what he loved about Carey, Cannon, 27, said: "Everything." Cannon, who appears in an upcoming Carey video, has been cozy with the singer in at least two previous outings, including an event in Las Vegas on April 14.           

       While Carey won't comment on the Cannon rumors, she's all too willing to publicly profess her love for Jack, her Jack Russell terrier.

       "I'm in love with my dog," said the singer. "He is my special someone. I love spending time with him."       

       In her new film, Carey plays Krystal, a troubled diner waitress and aspiring singer who tackles personal demons on a road trip to Tennessee.       

       "This is something very close to my heart," she said of her first major role since "Glitter" in 2001. "I'm very grateful to be here tonight. Some people come into our lives and take a chance, someone like Lee Daniels," who produced Tennessee. "I feel that everything happens for a reason."