Mariah Carey may be the undisputed “Queen of Christmas,” but the making of her signature holiday hit’s music video was far from the festive fairytale it appeared to be. In a new video interview for Allure, the 56-year-old superstar reflected on filming the promotional clip for her 1994 classic All I Want for Christmas Is You, admitting that behind the glitter and cheer, the shoot was “brutal.”
Despite the discomfort, Carey revealed she still holds a sentimental attachment to the outfit that became synonymous with the video’s wintry charm. “Someone asked me, ‘Do you still have that one?’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah, I use the same one every year,’” she shared with a laugh.
The single, part of her Merry Christmas album, has since become a global holiday staple. Over the decades, it has shattered records, earning three Guinness World Records titles, including the highest-charting holiday (Christmas/New Year) song on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2019. Its enduring appeal has transformed it into more than just a seasonal soundtrack it’s a cultural tradition.
Carey also gave fans a glimpse into the song’s humble beginnings. “I started writing that on a little DX7 or Casio keyboard that was in this little room in the house that I lived in at the time in Upstate New York lifetimes ago,” she recalled. “Just writing down everything that I thought about — all the things that reminded me of Christmas that made me feel festive, that I wanted other people to feel.”
Over the years, Carey has revisited her festive persona time and again. For the track’s 20th anniversary, she released an updated music video featuring her twins, Moroccan and Monroe, now 15, dressed in charming holiday outfits. Her signature Santa-inspired ensemble has been joined by other seasonal looks, including a plunging red gown and a Nutcracker-themed costume.
Her influence on holiday culture even extended into the toy world in 2023, Mattel unveiled a Barbie doll in her likeness, complete with her glamorous Christmas style.
Three decades on, All I Want for Christmas Is You remains as joyful and omnipresent as ever a testament to Carey’s vision of festive magic, even if its creation was anything but easy.
