Mariah Carey, recognized as the “Queen of Christmas,” recently launched Netflix’s inaugural NFL Christmas Gameday with an enthusiastic performance of her beloved holiday classic “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Decked out in a sparkling red suit, her pre-recorded performance took place against a picturesque snowy backdrop, interspersed with iconic highlights from past games between the Steelers and the Chiefs, as well as fans enjoying the festivities at home, featuring a fun cameo from actor Kevin Hart.
This impactful moment coincides with Carey celebrating her third consecutive week at the top of the charts with her holiday song, achieving a remarkable record of 17 weeks in total. This accomplishment surpasses her earlier achievement with “One Sweet Day,” a collaboration with Boyz II Men, which held the top spot for 16 weeks.
Carey’s performance was a festive kickoff for the day of games, starting with the matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers, followed by the Baltimore Ravens and the Houston Texans later in the day. The musical festivities will continue with Beyoncé headlining the halftime show, set to unveil songs from her upcoming album Cowboy Carter live for the first time. Additionally, the vocal group Pentatonix is scheduled to sing the national anthem for the Ravens-Texans clash.
In a teaser for her performance, Carey expressed, “This Christmas, we all get our wish. The NFL is live on Netflix. And I’ll be there, too.” She also reflected on her recent Christmas Time tour, which traveled to 20 cities across North America, and celebrated the 30th anniversary of her debut holiday album, Merry Christmas. Carey reminisced about the experience of recording the album when she was just starting her career, noting her initial apprehension and later joy in creating a festive atmosphere in the studio.
This event highlights the intersection of sports and entertainment during the holiday season, reminding us how music can bring people together to celebrate not just the games but the joyous spirit of Christmas.