Mariah Carey on Being QUEEN of Christmas, Roc and Roe’s Gift Lists & New TOUR! (
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00:00 So now, Queen of Christmas is a title we have affectionately bestowed upon you, right?
00:04 And I know you've earned it, but what do you think of the title, Queen of Christmas?
00:08 Well, I never called myself Queen of Christmas.
00:11 Other people started calling me Queen of Christmas, and I was like, "Oh, that's so cute," but
00:16 I wasn't like, "That's me!"
00:17 I don't know, let's get it on a shirt now.
00:21 I feel like we need to sell merch.
00:22 Yeah, I mean, it's fun, you know what I mean?
00:25 And it's flattering, you know?
00:26 It's a testament to the longevity of your Christmas music.
00:28 Yes.
00:29 You've been doing this for years, right?
00:30 I don't know, I haven't.
00:31 I wasn't born when I first started.
00:32 That's right, I forgot time.
00:33 Yes, you're right.
00:34 It's time now.
00:35 It's time now.
00:36 Now's the time.
00:37 We don't know what time it is.
00:38 You don't know what time it is?
00:39 Yeah.
00:40 But it's time.
00:41 It's time!
00:42 I don't want a lot for Christmas, there is just one thing I need.
00:55 The Queen of Christmas has defrosted.
00:57 What's exciting is you're about to give Santa a run for his money because you're taking
01:00 your Christmas extravaganza on the road.
01:02 Yes.
01:03 "Merry Christmas, One and All."
01:05 How would you describe this show?
01:07 Well, until I get out there and start doing it, I'm not going to know.
01:10 But it's not that I'm not going to know.
01:13 I'm immersed in the music.
01:15 I'm just super excited to be with the fans and just have an experience with them on the
01:23 road together for "Merry Christmas, One and All."
01:27 So, yeah, getting going.
01:29 It's getting into the frosty weather soon.
01:31 That's right.
01:32 And all of that.
01:33 You're bringing a different kind of sleigh, huh?
01:35 What's the one part of the show that you're excited to bring to fans?
01:39 I think really it's kind of a potpourri of sorts.
01:44 It's kind of like, you know, we start with the Sugar Plum Fairy and go all the way through
01:49 many holiday hymns and then regular holiday songs and then some of my songs that I haven't
01:57 done in a while that I, obviously I must have been frozen when I did them, but they're some
02:02 big, my other big hit songs.
02:05 So they're coming out the ice block too.
02:06 They're coming out too.
02:07 That's good.
02:08 And, you know, so we get, like I said, a potpourri of songs, the whole shebang.
02:16 And you say that I also see sights, but smell as well.
02:19 Like the sights and smells.
02:21 It's a 4D experience.
02:22 Yes, for sure.
02:24 How many different ensembles are we working with for this tour, Mariah?
02:27 We're working with, on the outside, like 10.
02:32 But really I can't do 10 costume changes.
02:34 So we have about four that I'm very excited about.
02:38 And then if I need to swap some out.
02:40 I was going to ask.
02:41 You might rotate if you need to.
02:42 Rotation never hurt anybody.
02:44 No, not at all.
02:45 Especially when it's you and especially when it's Christmas.
02:47 I feel like it must be so fun to kind of put those kind of looks together to really complete
02:51 the visual.
02:52 Yeah, it is fun to put those kind of looks together because it's a holiday themed concert.
02:57 But again, it's also doing my own records that are not holiday themed.
03:03 So you kind of get to mix and match with the wardrobe and all the things.
03:08 I love it.
03:09 Well, you love a theme, clearly, you know.
03:10 It's a theme, darling.
03:11 It's a theme.
03:12 It's festive.
03:13 It's festive.
03:14 It's time.
03:15 Speaking of, okay, so that It's Time video.
03:17 I mean, I checked at the time of this interview, it has 119 million views and counting, which
03:22 apparently is the most viewed video on X, aka Twitter.
03:25 I mean, the fans ate this one up.
03:28 How much fun was it filming this one, especially because your kids got to be a part of it?
03:31 Yeah, it was a lot of fun because we started putting this video together like September.
03:36 Wow.
03:37 September, maybe October 1st.
03:40 And so it was really fun because we had to do everything from scratch and then put a
03:47 lot of it in post and then just decide what it was going to be when we landed in Christmas
03:53 time, which was on the top of, what's the biggest mountain again?
04:00 Mount Everest.
04:01 It was on the top of Mount Everest.
04:02 That's right.
04:03 There you go.
04:04 I'm about to say Mount Fuji and all different places.
04:05 I almost said Rushmore.
04:06 But there was visual effects in this one, huh?
04:11 You said post.
04:12 Yes, there was post.
04:13 Come on, budget.
04:14 Come on.
04:15 I did it myself.
04:16 Good for you.
04:17 Of course.
04:18 And next year.
04:19 But no, it was a lot of fun and to get all those details together was just like, it took
04:26 a while, but it was fun.
04:27 Well, Rock and Roll, I know they've joined you on stage in the past.
04:30 I hear they're going to be part of this show as well in some capacity?
04:33 Yes, they are.
04:34 Okay.
04:35 I obviously see your kids on TikTok as well.
04:36 I mean, they are so talented and they are hams.
04:40 They just love the camera.
04:41 Yes.
04:42 Are you proud of that?
04:49 I'm proud of them in general.
04:51 They just know so many things and they're on top of everything.
04:56 And yes, they're going to be coming around the country with me and doing their thing.
05:02 And I'm excited to watch them.
05:04 They're growing fast.
05:05 Don't even remind me.
05:06 I know.
05:07 But now, is mom giving them tips on their TikToks though?
05:11 Like for example, the perfect lighting, you know, stuff like that?
05:14 Well, they don't really care about it like I care about it.
05:16 I care about it.
05:17 But they know that I care about it.
05:18 Right.
05:19 So, you know.
05:20 I love it.
05:21 They'll know if we're in a poorly lit room, they'll be like, "Mom, this room is not, the
05:25 lighting is so bad."
05:28 Rock and Roll, their Christmas wishlist.
05:29 Is it wild or is it pretty manageable?
05:32 Last year it was wild.
05:33 Okay.
05:34 Yeah.
05:35 I mean, I'm getting older, you know.
05:36 Well, everything is somehow technology driven.
05:41 So it's not necessarily cheap.
05:44 Not that I want it to be cheap, but like, you know, I like them to have a lot of presents
05:47 to open and everything else.
05:49 But then they sort of don't care about the other ones.
05:51 They live for the ones that are, you know, a little more on the expensive side.
05:57 I love it.
05:58 Okay.
05:59 I want to know what bride carry is like during the holidays off stage.
06:01 So like, for example, be honest.
06:03 How long does your tree stay up?
06:05 Because like, it'll be two weeks into the new year, I'm still staring at that thing
06:07 in my living room.
06:08 Oh, my trees, plural, stay up for a long, long time.
06:13 They do?
06:14 Yes.
06:15 Okay.
06:16 I mean, when do they go away?
06:17 When I leave for whatever, what the next adventure is going to be, then they go away.
06:20 I see.
06:21 Okay.
06:22 It's all about that for me.
06:23 Of course.
06:24 It's all about, yeah.
06:25 Yeah.
06:26 Now, I know you have a direct line to Santa, but what does someone like your loved ones
06:28 get Mariah Carey for Christmas?
06:30 Like what's on your wishlist?
06:31 I don't know.
06:32 What's the ideal holiday gift?
06:34 I started telling people, "Get me a gift."
06:36 That just don't think that I could use anything, but it's the thought that counts.
06:41 It's like, get your friend or your relative or whatever, get them something.
06:46 You know?
06:47 It doesn't have to be amazing.
06:49 That's sentimental maybe, but also thoughtful to the person you're purchasing it for.
06:53 Yes.
06:54 Okay, I love it.
06:55 So you wouldn't mind a handmade gift then?
06:56 Like something that was made at home?
06:58 No, I wouldn't mind that at all.
06:59 Okay, as long as there's like a little thought behind it.
07:01 I mean, I'm waiting for the diamonds.
07:03 Of course.
07:04 Me too, honey.
07:05 Okay?
07:06 Me too.
07:07 Okay, so let's keep that in mind, people, friends.
07:11 Okay.
07:12 There's a range, but we know what she wants.
07:13 Yeah, you know, even the smallest of diamonds can make a lovely little accent on any gift.
07:20 Plenty of gifts.
07:21 Do you indulge during the holidays like the rest of us?
07:23 Like my thing's tamales.
07:24 Like what's yours?
07:25 You like tamales?
07:26 I do.
07:27 I don't have much of a sweet tooth.
07:29 I have this song that goes, "Feeling so hot tamale."
07:33 Yes, I love it.
07:36 Yeah, what do you indulge in over the holidays?
07:38 Or do you not?
07:40 My new thing is going to be butterscotch pudding.
07:43 I haven't started with it yet, but I had it at a restaurant the other night.
07:46 Sure.
07:47 It was so good.
07:48 Oh, so now you're ready.
07:49 I was like, "Yeah, I have to get the recipe for that."
07:50 I love it.
07:51 Yeah.
07:52 Now, aside from the tour, what are your holiday plans and who are you spending it with?
07:56 I'm spending it with my kids and some friends.
08:01 We'll be in Aspen and we'll be on our two-horse open sleigh ride.
08:06 Okay.
08:07 Santa's coming over as well.
08:09 You think I'm lying, but it is true.
08:10 No, I believe you.
08:11 I don't think you're lying at all.
08:13 I'm telling you, that's your homie right there.
08:15 That is my homie.
08:18 He's going to be coming over and then we're going to ... Well, before that, we're going
08:22 to go on a two-horse open sleigh, which happens on the 23rd.
08:26 Oh, awesome.
08:27 Yeah, it's the best.
08:28 So, Santa, sleighs, hot cocoa, everything.
08:32 Yes.
08:33 Well, we know, of course, you love the Lambs and us Lambs love you.
08:36 I'm asking this for the fans.
08:37 Will you be gifting the fans any new music in Horizon?
08:41 I've been working on some new music.
08:44 Okay.
08:45 I have about 10 songs because we just kept ... Me and my writing partner just kept writing
08:51 and writing.
08:52 Yeah, it's been fun because I've been like, "Oh, I guess we're making a new album."
09:00 So you don't really plan it.
09:01 It just kind of is more organic.
09:02 It just happens.
09:03 Yeah.
09:04 Oh, I love it.
09:05 Are you liking what you're putting down?
09:06 I really am.
09:07 Okay.
09:08 We worked yesterday in the studio with some singers and choir and doing one of those kind
09:12 of songs.
09:13 That's some of the best parts of the Christmas album is the choir stuff.
09:17 Yeah.
09:18 I mean, the gospel singers on that is just incredible.
09:21 We're working on some stuff for that as well.
09:24 What's one word you would use to describe this Christmas tour?
09:27 Festive.
09:28 Of course.
09:29 Of course it is.
09:30 Of course it's festive.
09:31 What else could I do?
09:32 What else could I say?
09:34 [music]
09:39 (upbeat music)