Christmas wouldn’t be complete without Mariah Carey gracing the airwaves.
This year, however, it’s not just her iconic festive hit, All I Want for Christmas Is You, making an appearance. The singer will host her own show on BBC Radio 2 on Christmas Day at 7:00 PM.
As part of the BBC’s Christmas programming, Carey’s special broadcast celebrates the 30th anniversary of her 1994 holiday classic, ensuring her enduring legacy remains at the heart of the festive season.
In the pre-recorded festive hour, Mariah Carey will express her gratitude to listeners for their continued support over the years. She will also share a selection of Christmas classics from artists who have inspired her, including Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and Whitney Houston.
Carey’s iconic holiday hit, All I Want for Christmas Is You, originally released in 1994, famously fell short of claiming the Christmas number one spot, losing to East 17’s Stay Another Day.
In December 2020, 26 years after its initial release, Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You finally claimed the coveted Christmas number one spot, repeating the achievement in 2022.
Carey is among several American stars featured in the BBC’s festive programming. Cher, famed for her hit I Got You Babe, will share her favorite tracks as a guest on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs on December 15.
British talent will also shine over the holidays. The Absolutely Fabulous cast—Jennifer Saunders, Dame Joanna Lumley, Jane Horrocks, and Julia Sawalha—will reunite to reflect on the iconic 1990s sitcom and its recent reunion special with Kirsty Wark on BBC Radio 4 on Christmas Day.
Meanwhile, BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show host Zoe Ball, who recently announced she will step down in December after six years, will present a festive selection of crooners, including Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong, on Christmas Eve from midday to 2 PM and again on Christmas Day from 6 AM to 8 AM.
On December 20, Jack Saunders will announce the Official Christmas Number One on BBC Radio 1.
In addition, Carey’s Carey’s Christmas Time Tour, celebrating 30 years of her holiday classic, was announced in August, adding to the excitement of the season.
Five-time Grammy-winner Mariah Carey launched her Carey’s Christmas Time Tour on November 6 in Highland, California, with the final performance scheduled for December 17 in Brooklyn, New York.
The 90-minute show features a 26-song setlist blending holiday classics with modern interpretations and Carey’s greatest hits. Each night concludes with her iconic 1994 hit, All I Want for Christmas Is You, widely regarded as the world’s most popular holiday song.
In November 2022, Carey reflected on the origins of the track, which she co-wrote with Brazilian songwriter Walter Afanasieff. Speaking to Parade, she revealed:
“I started writing that on a little DX7 or Casio keyboard in a small room in my house in Upstate New York lifetimes ago. I just wrote down everything that reminded me of Christmas—everything that made me feel festive and that I hoped would bring the same joy to others.”
