Mariah Carey's “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” Being the global superstar she is, it was recently revealed the singer-songwriter and actress makes nearly one million dollars in royalties from this one record every single year. Beyond that, Carey recently celebrated the song going diamond after it clocked in at over one billion streams total. In fact, it's the first holiday track to receive this coveted certification.
It's no secret the star is the queen of Christmas. But this year, she revealed yet another monumental drop: Her own Mariah Menu in collaboration with McDonald's restaurants nationwide as well as incredibly cute merch such as a McDonald's beanie and a T-shirt featuring a portrait of Carey enjoying her favorite Mickey D's meal: A cheeseburger with extra pickles.
REVOLT caught up with Mariah Carey to discuss her new partnership, “All I Want For Christmas Is You” going diamond, recording her new Christmas song with Khalid and Kirk Franklin, the worst present she's gotten, and much more! Check out the chat below.
How does it feel to be releasing your own official menu with McDonald's? This is legendary.
It is legendary because I grew up loving — just even looking at the Golden M. Just looking at it, I was never like, “Oh yeah, one day I'm going to do this.” I couldn't have imagined that. It's an amazing, amazing situation. The Mariah Menu is super exciting because I know they always do the meal, and this is a whole menu that happens from the 13th to Christmas Eve. So yayyy! Can Santa go in there on Christmas Eve? What are we doing? (Laughs)
How are you celebrating that?
I will be celebrating it for sure. Me and the kids will, we definitely will. I'm not like a morning person, so whatever with that — but definitely the cheeseburger moment. That's me and my daughter's favorite.
With extra pickles.
Yes honey, absolutely! That's how you know it's super fresh.
What was the highlight in shooting the commercial?
Joseph Kahn, my favorite director and friend. I love him. That was the highlight for me. Having him there.
I'm rocking the Mariah x McDonald's shirt! Talk about your fire merch.
You know it's cute merch. I have to give it up, McDonald's did it. McDonald's did it, I am not taking the credit. I loved it. Usually I'm like, “Oh, I want it exactly like this or that,” or whatever. This time, they did it. Of course they're McDonald's, why wouldn't they know how to do something? I was blown away by it. I think it's amazing.
My parents used to treat us to a Big Mac once a week, super nostalgic. How often do your kids get McDonald's?
It's super nostalgic for so many people. And the thing is, it is for me too. No, I didn't get a Big Mac every week. I didn't have a lot of money growing up. But now, my kids, they literally want McDonald's every day (laughs). I have to tell them, “This is a treat. This is a treat and you have to understand that.” So that's that, but it's amazing. They are so excited about Mariah Menu.
“All I Want for Christmas Is You” went diamond. One billion streams! How does it feel?
It's an amazing thing and I'm very thankful. I can't believe this song I wrote so long ago when I first started… Christmas songs take a while to permeate the culture, you know what I mean? It's an honor and honestly, it's all because of my fans. Even people who aren't necessarily my fans, they're just like, “Whatever, we like that song.” It's a huge honor and I'm thankful for all of it. The billion streams, the diamond award, all of it.
You decorated the studio to record that?
Of course I did! I'll give you an example, so I just wrote this song called “Fall In Love At Christmas.” It features Khalid and Kirk Franklin.
Saw the Apple TV performance!
Oh you did? So festive, I live for that moment. Zane is amazing. So yes, it was decorated when I was writing it, but then somebody took down the decorations and I couldn't finish my part.
Who took them down?!
Some idiot that I'm not happy with took them down. I hope they watch this interview. I hope they see it, because guess what? They could've been name-checked the entire time. Oh, so and so did this. Oh, Blaze did an incredible job. Look at these decorations, he's amazing. He did them. Guess what? This other person took down the tree. Bye! I don't know who they are, I don't even know them.
But listen, I had to do something festive, so I put one of my Christmas blankets on the chair in the studio and finished recording the song. It was fun. We went on to do all this stuff and the McDonald's commercial, all of the things that have been super festive. The Apple special, everything that I can't even… there's so many things. It's exciting. Really the most exciting thing is I got to speak to two of my lambs that didn't know that I was going to be calling. It made my night because I miss them so much. They actually validate my existence, so it makes me really happy.
How was it performing in your Dolce & Gabbana dress that weighed 60 pounds. That's heavy!
It weighed 60 pounds but it is Dolce & Gabbana. It's the same designer but that 60 pound dress was like ahhhh! People have no idea what it took, how many people it took to carry it. When you see it, when I see it, I'm like, “Wow, that really was. I wore that!”
What is the best and worst Christmas present you received?
Probably one year… Oh, I can't even get into it. Somebody that somebody I know used to be married to wrapped up something that was in their freakin' bathroom that I already saw and they gave it to me as a gift (laughs). I was like, “Wow thanks, this is amazing. You spent so much money and time.” That I didn't love. Then, I've gotten many beautiful things over the years. Honestly, I enjoy giving more…
Me too!
Yeah, you know why.
What was it like the first time seeing the tree at Rockefeller Center in New York?
For the first time, it was cool. A lot of things are not easy with that. It's freezing cold. It's hard. Nobody wants to be out there with your vocal chords freezing. So even Aretha Franklin, the queen, didn't want to deal with that type of nonsense. It's amazing. Yay the tree, I love it. I'm a New Yorker at heart, forever. Forever New York! But yeah, nah, I'm not really loving singing outside in the freezing cold. Not my fav.
Will you be hosting New Year's Eve in Times Square this year?
Oh, I don't know that that's a thing (laughs). I don't think that's a thing. But, I'm gonna be somewhere and be happy! That day is going to be festive, and love, and all the things.
I saw you have your own Mariah cookies!
I do! I do and the packaging is really cute for Christmas this year. That's fun. I know we can't talk about liquor. God forbid anyone has a drink like it's illegal, but it's called Black Irish. It has three flavors and it's my favorite holiday drink ever created. Because I don't really like eggnog, but I try to drink it because it's Christmas. This was made in the spirit of that, but you can drink it any time of the year. For real.
What was your biggest takeaway from the last couple of years?
I think it's been a really tough couple years for us all. Even making these specials with Apple and doing all the other things that I've done, there's been a lot. But I've only come out of my house to work, not to play. And the thing is, I'm happy for everyone that is finally fully vaccinated, [and] going to continue to be careful. Going to really, really, really do their best to stay safe, and that's all I can say.
Do you have any New Year's resolutions?
Resolutions? Dahling, let me get there. Can we get through this? I want to live, I live for Christmas. I just want to enjoy Christmas. No resolutions yet.