In 2025, holiday music remains a cornerstone of American pop culture, and artists like Mariah Carey continue to hold a special place in this seasonal tradition. Carey’s timeless classic “All I Want for Christmas Is You” remains a fixture on global charts each year, exemplifying how certain holiday songs have evolved into cultural phenomena that go far beyond their original release dates. The song has become synonymous with the holiday season, with its annual resurgence not just in music charts but in various cultural touchpoints, from retail jingles to social media trends. This ongoing success is a testament to how music can outlast its initial commercial run and become an integral part of broader cultural moments.
For Mariah Carey, the cultural impact of her holiday music has only grown over time. In 2025, she was announced as a featured performer for the upcoming Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milano Cortina. This announcement underscores how certain songs and artists can transcend the confines of a specific time of year, embedding themselves deeply within the fabric of global pop culture. Carey’s inclusion in such a high-profile event not only highlights the lasting appeal of her music but also signals how live performance opportunities—whether in Las Vegas residencies, arena tours, or global sporting events—serve to extend an artist’s influence far beyond the traditional scope of album cycles.
Carey is far from the only artist whose holiday music continues to resonate deeply within the culture. Holiday music icons, both past and present, have a unique ability to remain relevant through the years, shaping festive traditions for new generations while also maintaining their hold on older audiences. The impact of these artists is felt in the recurring popularity of their songs, in merchandising opportunities, and in their ability to be included in media and live performance opportunities at key cultural moments. These songs and the artists who perform them are woven into the annual rhythms of holiday celebrations, making their mark on both the music industry and collective cultural memory.
This ability to transcend the seasonal nature of holiday music is one of the reasons why certain artists and songs have remained so impactful over time. As seen with Carey’s announcement for the Winter Olympics, holiday music can serve as a vehicle for wider cultural engagement. Through performance and media appearances, these iconic songs and their creators continue to shape festive traditions around the world, reaffirming the enduring power of holiday music to influence pop culture year after year.
The ongoing cultural resonance of holiday music icons highlights the shifting landscape of music promotion in a digital world. Live performances at global events, such as the Winter Olympics, offer opportunities to reframe holiday music as a year-round, ever-relevant cultural force. For artists like Mariah Carey, whose holiday hits have a proven track record of becoming integral to seasonal celebrations, the intersection of music, live performance, and cultural moments creates a lasting impact that extends far beyond the initial holiday season. This reinforces how holiday music continues to serve as a key pillar of pop culture, enriching holiday traditions while shaping the cultural zeitgeist for generations to come.