Mariah Carey has officially welcomed the 2026 holiday season, bringing back her annual It’s Time tradition with an unexpected rock-inspired opening.
In a video released November 1, the singer appears in a New York City bar performing Hermit, a song connected to her unreleased grunge recordings from the 1990s. Wearing punk-inspired makeup and clothing, Carey briefly revisits her alternative rock side before the clock strikes midnight.
The scene then transforms into a festive Christmas setting as her holiday classic All I Want for Christmas Is You begins playing.
The video also draws attention to Someone’s Ugly Daughter, a grunge album Carey recorded during the Daydream era. Originally released in 1995 under the band name Chick, the project featured Clarissa Dane on lead vocals. Carey has expressed interest in making her own recordings available, although no release date has been announced.
The Christmas celebration also includes a new Gucci holiday campaign featuring Carey arriving at a luxury hotel.
Together, the video and fashion campaign mark another festive season for the singer while keeping interest in her rock recordings alive.