I was so happy it was a hit first time out - to become truly timeless is incredible'

Queen of Christmas Mariah Carey on why this time of year and her famous festive hit mean so muc

- SALLY JAMES

Mariah Carey is synonymous with Christmas thanks to her mega-hit All I Want For Christmas Is You. 

And almost 30 years on from its release, her festive spirit is still as strong as ever – with Mariah admitting she’ll never get tired of singing the seasonal staple.

“I really do love Christmas and I love the holidays,” the 54-year-old says. “The magic is still real for me, and the song is part of that. I sing it from the heart every time.”

While Mariah is affectionately known as the Queen of Christmas to many, it hasn’t always been a happy time for the singer.

She explains Christmas was “a mess” during her childhood after growing up in a “dysfunctional family”, which is why she was so determined to change that.

From decorating her multiple trees to indulging in festive food, Mariah enjoys all the classic traditions. And she’s also started a new tradition with her own family, taking her 12-year-old twins Moroccan and Monroe to Aspen, Colorado, every year to experience a white Christmas.

“To see snow at Christmas is the greatest joy,” she explains. “It costs money to get to places with snow if you don’t live in one, and we never take that for granted.”

It’s clearly important that her children, who she shares with ex-husband Nick Cannon, get to embrace the magic of the festive period. And this year, they also joined her on the road for her Merry Christmas One And All! tour. with as many people as I could. My fans are a huge part of my Christmas. I have learnt that nothing is perfect, but I can try to reach out and help share the merriest of Christmases with everyone.