Mariah Carey Reveals Her ‘Favorite All-Time’ Christmas Song — and It’s Not What You Think It Is

All Mariah Carey wants for Christmas is a certain yuletide tune. In her Wednesday (Nov. 15) appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, the 54-year-old singer revealed what her personal favorite holiday song is — and no, it’s not her own bestselling 1994 hit.

“I have to say,” began the Queen of Christmas, “my favorite all-time Christmas song is Nat King Cole‘s version of ‘[The] Christmas Song.’ That’s my favorite.”

Carey’s answer may come as a surprise, given how passionately she promotes “All I Want for Christmas Is You” each year (usually starting with a whistle-tone proclamation, “It’s time!”). The single has spent a collective 12 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, first reaching the summit in 2019 a full 25 years after it was originally released on the vocalist’s album Merry Christmas. This year, Carey will sing “All I Want” at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards Sunday (Nov. 19), marking her first time performing the track at an awards show.

No matter the song, Carey said she only has one requirement for the music played in her household between Nov. 1 and Dec. 25: It has to be festive. “I don’t let anybody listen to anything but Christmas music when I’m celebrating Christmas,” she told Hudson, looking as serious as ever.

The Songbird Supreme also revealed her favorite Christmas movies — “I love Elf… I like Miracle on 34th Street, the original one” — as well as her go-to holiday decorations, a large gold-themed tree in the center of her home along with a smaller tree reminiscent of A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Watch Carey’s Jennifer Hudson Show interview above, and catch the BBMAs on Billboard’s social channels or via BBMAs.watch on Sunday, Nov. 19, beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.