Of course it could be a cover tribute or at least I hope so. Because if not, Mariah could easily sue Ariana's camp for copyright infringement.
IF this is a cover (and most likely it is), she's doing herself no favours against those excessive accusations that she's trying to swaggerjack Mariah's sound and career. The original song was written AND composed by Mariah, alongside Robert Clivillés and David Cole.