Mariah Carey, often dubbed the “Queen of Christmas” due to her iconic 1994 holiday hit All I Want for Christmas Is You, rejected the title during an interview on the Zoe Ball Breakfast Show. Instead, Carey said the honor belongs to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ.
“That was other people,” Carey explained, addressing the nickname controversy. “I just want to humbly say that I don’t consider myself that. To me, Mary is the Queen of Christmas.” Carey added that while she loves the holiday season and has written many Christmas songs, her faith leads her to recognize Mary as the rightful bearer of the title.
The “Queen of Christmas” label has sparked debates among fans and artists, with contenders like Darlene Love and Elizabeth Chan also laying claim to the title. In 2021, Carey’s company, Lotion LLC, filed to trademark “Queen of Christmas” and other related terms. The petition aimed to use the title for a range of products but faced opposition from Chan, who had also been called the “Queen of Christmas” and used the brand “Princess of Christmas” for her daughter.
The U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board ultimately rejected Carey’s petition by default after her team missed a filing deadline. Attorney Louis Tompros, representing Chan, celebrated the decision as a win against “trademark bullying.” Darlene Love also welcomed the outcome, expressing gratitude on social media for preserving the legacy of many artists associated with Christmas music.
Carey has since distanced herself from the controversy. In a tweet, she called Dolly Parton “The Queen of the World, The Queen of Christmas, The Queen of Mine!!” reaffirming her unwillingness to monopolize the title.
