Mariah Carey Opens 2026 Holiday Season With Star-Topper Music Video

Mariah Carey officially kicked off the 2026 holiday season with the premiere of a new music video for her 1994 hit, "All I Want for Christmas Is You." The release continues her annual tradition of unveiling new visual content to mark the start of the festive period.

The video presents Carey as the decorative star that crowns the top of a large Christmas tree. The visual concept is designed to be dazzling and creative, serving as the centerpiece for this year's promotional rollout.

The clip opens with a surprise for fans by playing "Hermit," an alternative rock track from the 1990s. Carey recorded the song under the alias Chick for the album "Someone’s Ugly Daughter." She kept the authorship of that work secret until releasing her memoir in 2020.

After the opening rock sequence, the video transitions to a winter landscape. Carey delivers her customary yearly announcement, stating "It’s time," before the melody of her signature Christmas song takes over the screen.

The release comes as the song holds a major chart history. "All I Want for Christmas Is You" spent 22 non-consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 last year. That record was recently surpassed by Ella Langley’s country track "Choosin’ Texas," but the holiday season offers a new opportunity for Carey to reclaim the top spot.

The launch also aligns with the conclusion of a long legal battle involving her brother, Morgan Carey. The New York State Supreme Court recently dismissed his defamation lawsuit, which sought more than $20 million in damages. The suit stemmed from Carey’s autobiography, "The Meaning of Mariah Carey."

The judge found no evidence of actual malice in the biographical work, protecting the book from the claim. Morgan Carey’s legal team has announced they may pursue an appeal of the decision.