Inside Mariah Carey's Christmas Concert Special: A Duet with Her Daughter, Celebrity Cameos and More

Mar. 15, 2025

Mariah Carey and daughter Monroe.Photo: James Devaney/CBS

There are few seasonal traditions more guaranteed thanMariah Carey’s infectious Christmas spirit.

The music icon proved that once again in New York City on Dec. 13, hitting the Madison Square Garden stage to perform her latest Christmas-themed concert for thousands of fans. But don’t worry if you couldn’t score tickets, because cameras recorded the spectacle for a new special,Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas To All!, airing on CBS and streaming on Paramount+ Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.

The timing of her MSG show couldn’t have been better: Just one day earlier, news broke that her universally beloved classic, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” had returned to the No. 1 spot on theBillboardHot 100 for the fourth straight year in a row, andmade some history in the process.

Read on for more highlights from the concert.

A “Queen of Christmas”-Worthy Start

Carey has long been called the “Queen of Christmas,” and she helped solidify that title with a memorable opener, descending from the top of MSG on a floating snowflake throne during a rendition of “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” fromThe Nutcracker.

Wearing a gold crown and a sparkling dress, she transitioned into “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” with a gospel choir providing powerful backup vocals.

“A lot of us really need hope around the holidays,” Carey said. Her uplifting performance no doubt helped, as the audience couldn’t stop cheering when she hit the high notes in “Joy to the World.”

Mariah Carey with Santa Claus.James Devaney/CBS

Comedy Relief

Carey drew laughter while jokingly beckoning her backstage helpers (or should we call them elves?) to the stage.

In between numbers, the guys — to whom Carey publicly expressed her appreciation — would come out with bedazzled cups filled with water or tea to help her hydrate and soothe her voice.

The audience was especially amused when she called for her glam squad, including fan-favorite makeup artistKristofer Buckle, for quick touchups under the spotlight.

The Audience and Carey Feel the Love

When Carey sang “Silent Night,” thousands of fans took out their phones and lit up their flashlights, waving them around like how folks used to hold up lighters at concerts. This created an aura of unity that moved Carey.

“Thank you everybody,” she said to cheers near the end of the song, appearing grateful for the connection with her “Lambily,” as she calls her group of fans. “I love you more.”

Mariah Carey.James Devaney/CBS

Cameos Galore

This year,Drew Barrymore,longtime collaborator Jermaine Dupri,Billy Porter, Slick Rick and theRadio City Rocketteswere among those who supported Carey.

“No one flies like a bird like you, Ms. Mariah Carey,” Porter said while surprising her with a plaque displaying the massive sales of “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

But the sweetest cameo came when daughter Monroe sat down next to her mom for a lovely duet of “Away in a Manger.”

Mariah Carey with Billy Porter.James Devaney/CBS

Hits, Hits and Hits

Just because it’s a Christmas concert doesn’t mean Carey won’t sing some of her No. 1 smashes. Indeed, during the middle of the festive show, she performed a variety of favorites, including “Fantasy,” “Honey,” “Heartbreaker,” “Emotions,” “Make It Happen” and “Hero.”

Barrymore best summed up the moment as Carey took a quick break backstage: “When Mariah Carey tells you that ‘a hero lies in you,’ well, you believe her.”

Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas To All!airs on CBS and streams on Paramount+ Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.

source: people.com