Mariah Carey wasn’t always sure about making a Christmas album. “Merry Christmas” turns 30 this month

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mariah Carey is comfortable that it has grow to be culturally synonymous with Christmas — thanks partly to its longevity her iconic song “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and its ubiquity yearly when the vacations come around.

However, the Grammy Award winner admits that she was initially unsure about recording a Christmas album when her label approached her. “I was a little apprehensive,” she says, reflecting on her album “Merry Christmas,” which saw her turn 30 this month.

Ahead of her performance at Sunday’s American Music Awards and her upcoming holiday tour, which begins in November, Carey spoke to The Associated Press about the recommendation she would give to young artists rising to fame and using her song “Always Be My Baby, Ari Aster Horror comedy 2023, “Beau’s scared.”

The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

AP: What was it like celebrating the just about twentieth anniversary of “The Emancipation of Mimi” and reflecting on the legacy of the album?

CAREY: I believe “The Emancipation of Mimi” is certainly one of my albums that pushed some boundaries, and I used to be really comfortable about that because obviously I had to return back. And yes, it was a comeback. But it’s certainly one of my favorite albums. Celebrating it this 12 months and celebrating “Mimi” was really fun because I had never done those songs. I never do them. And this time I did it.

AP: Because of this type of underdog feeling, did you are feeling a creative freedom and strength that you could not have felt before?

CAREY: Yes, I feel like people were able to embrace me again. And you realize how I felt about it? I mean, I feel just like the album “Charmbracelet” was also a excellent album, though not everyone knew it. Well, you realize, when “We Belong Together” got here out after “It’s Like That,” which didn’t do as well, but still did pretty much. Whatever.

AP: “It’s Like That” is a great song.

CAREY: It’s a good song. And I really like doing it. You know, I am going through different stages with these albums. That’s interesting.

AP: Your first Christmas album, “Merry Christmas,” turns 30 this month. This was obviously a formative record for you and your profession. Do you remember anything from its beginnings?

CAREY: So the record company said, (*30*) And I said, “I don’t know if I should at this point.” Because, you realize, I used to be very young, I used to be just starting out, and I felt that folks made Christmas albums later in life. But now people have began doing it at any time, like at the height of their profession. I mean, how did I feel? I used to be a little concerned, after which I said, “I love it.” And I arrange a studio and just had a great time.

AP: Chappell Roan made headlines when she talked about how she was battling sudden fame. As someone who has been in the general public eye for therefore long, do you’ve gotten any advice for young artists who’re battling this issue?

CAREY: Well, I’ve been through a lot of drama, and it is not fun since you grow up pondering, “I want to be famous.” I mean, it was really always like, “I want to be a singer. I want to write songs.” But “I Want to Be Famous” was right up my alley. I believe it was probably because I didn’t feel like I used to be ok due to the things I went through growing up. And that is not a good technique to feel, you realize?

But my advice is this: try as hard as you may to enter this industry with love to your talent and what is actually real for you. You know, if it’s like, “I would like to be famous. I would like to run with these people, whoever they’re, famous people,” that is probably not the most effective idea.

AP: Have you seen “Beau Is Afraid” by Ari Aster? with Joaquin Phoenix?

CAREY: Yes. I needed to approve it. I assumed it was an interesting way they used my song “Always Be My Baby.” It was interesting. I mean, it didn’t really fit the movie, but you realize, I got nervous, like, “You know, OK, that’s fine.” This was completely different. I mean, I wasn’t reluctant, but I assumed, “This is something completely different than I’ve ever experienced.”