# Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special
**Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special** is a 43-minute holiday music and variety special starring [Mariah Carey](https://www.edgepedia.org/mariah-carey), released globally on Apple TV+ on December 4, 2020. In its premise, the [North Pole](https://www.edgepedia.org/north-pole) faces a holiday cheer crisis and calls on Santa's great friend, the "Queen of Christmas," to save the day with a star-studded spectacular combining musical performances, dancing, and animation.[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special/) • [2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mariah_careys_magical_christmas_special)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Premiere | December 4, 2020, exclusively on Apple TV+[3](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2020/11/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special-debuts-friday-december-4-on-apple-tv-together-with-the-full-companion-soundtrack-exclusively-on-apple-music/) |
| Format | 43-minute music/variety special, rated TV-G[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mariah_careys_magical_christmas_special) |
| Guest lineup | Tiffany Haddish, Billy Eichner, Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson, Snoop Dogg, Jermaine Dupri, Misty Copeland, and Mykal-Michelle Harris, plus Carey's twins Moroccan and Monroe[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special/) |
| New song | "Oh Santa!" featuring Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson, released with a music video on December 4, 2020[3](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2020/11/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special-debuts-friday-december-4-on-apple-tv-together-with-the-full-companion-soundtrack-exclusively-on-apple-music/) |
| Production | Done + Dusted; directors Hamish Hamilton and Roman Coppola; writer Caroline Fox[4](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special/cast-crew/) |
| Reception | 86% Tomatometer from 7 critics and 78% Popcornmeter from 100+ audience ratings on Rotten Tomatoes; 5.3/10 user score on Metacritic[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mariah_careys_magical_christmas_special) • [5](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special/) |
| Recognition | One Primetime Emmy nomination, two Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Award nominations, and one Imagen Foundation Award nomination[5](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special/) |
## Spoilers
### Premise and format
The special is framed as a story: faced with a holiday cheer crisis, the North Pole turns to the one person who can save the day, Santa's great friend Mariah Carey, who stages a fabulous and star-studded spectacular to make the whole world merry.[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special/) [Tiffany Haddish](https://www.edgepedia.org/tiffany-haddish) narrates the story in a variation on "The Night Before Christmas" that opens with an oblique reference to the unfestive year of 2020.[6](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special)
The production blends musical performances, dynamic dancing, and animation.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mariah_careys_magical_christmas_special) The design studio Yellow Studio, which built the sets, described the work as Apple's first ever holiday special, blending physical and digital elements into Christmas landscapes intended to evoke comfort, warmth, and nostalgia.[7](https://yellowstudio.com/work/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special/) [The Detroit News](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-detroit-news) called it "wholesome and kid-friendly, an ode to Christmas specials of yore and delivered with a knowing wink and a nod."[5](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special/)
## Cast and production
Carey headlined the special and served as an executive producer alongside Ian Stewart, Raj Kapoor, Ashley Edens, Hamish Hamilton, and [Roman Coppola](https://www.edgepedia.org/roman-coppola), who also shared directing duties; Caroline Fox wrote it.[4](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special/cast-crew/) The production company was Done + Dusted, known for "The Disney Family Singalong" and "The Little Mermaid Live!"[8](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2020/08/apple-and-global-superstar-mariah-carey-team-for-mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special/)
The guest lineup included Tiffany Haddish, Billy Eichner, Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson, Snoop Dogg, Jermaine Dupri, ballet dancer [Misty Copeland](https://www.edgepedia.org/misty-copeland), and child actress [Mykal-Michelle Harris](https://www.edgepedia.org/mykal-michelle-harris), with extra appearances by Carey's twins, Moroccan and Monroe.[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special/) Metacritic's cast list also credits appearances by Anitta, Millie Bobby Brown, Heidi Klum, Bette Midler, Leslie Odom Jr., and Ozuna.[5](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special/)
## Music and soundtrack
A new single and music video, "Oh Santa!" featuring [Ariana Grande](https://www.edgepedia.org/ariana-grande) and [Jennifer Hudson](https://www.edgepedia.org/jennifer-hudson), was released globally on December 4, 2020, the same day as the special.[3](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2020/11/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special-debuts-friday-december-4-on-apple-tv-together-with-the-full-companion-soundtrack-exclusively-on-apple-music/) A full companion soundtrack, *Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special (Apple TV+ Original Soundtrack)*, was released exclusively on Apple Music alongside the premiere.[3](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2020/11/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special-debuts-friday-december-4-on-apple-tv-together-with-the-full-companion-soundtrack-exclusively-on-apple-music/) • [9](https://music.apple.com/us/album/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special-apple-tv-original/1541405636) The special streams with [Dolby Atmos](https://www.edgepedia.org/dolby-atmos) audio and Dolby Vision video on Apple TV.[10](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special)
## Reception
Critical response was favorable. Rotten Tomatoes recorded an 86% Tomatometer from 7 reviews and a 78% Popcornmeter from more than 100 audience ratings.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mariah_careys_magical_christmas_special) The Telegraph's Anthony Brett gave it 4/5, calling Carey "spectacular" and the production "a brief yet ludicrously expensive extravaganza that insists you enjoy it."[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mariah_careys_magical_christmas_special) • [5](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special/) NME's Nick Levine, also at 4/5, judged it "probably a song too long" but consistent with Carey's festive excess.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mariah_careys_magical_christmas_special) Audience scores were more divided: Metacritic's user score stood at 5.3 out of 10 from 25 ratings, with 44% positive and 40% negative.[5](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special/)
The special earned one Primetime Emmy Award nomination, two Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Award nominations, and one Imagen Foundation Award nomination.[5](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special/)
## Follow-up
Apple reportedly entered talks with Carey for a 2021 follow-up shortly after the special premiered.[11](https://www.macrumors.com/2020/12/29/apple-mariah-carey-christmas-special-followup/) The result was *Mariah's Christmas: The Magic Continues*, a shorter 2021 holiday special on Apple TV+ featuring the first performance of the single "Fall in Love at Christmas," an interview with Apple Music's Zane Lowe, and appearances by Carey's twins; it also celebrated the ongoing success of the 2020 special.[12](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/mariahs-christmas-the-magic-continues/)
## References
1. [Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special, Apple TV Press](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special/)
2. [Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mariah_careys_magical_christmas_special)
3. ["Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special" debuts Friday, December 4 on Apple TV+, Apple TV Press](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2020/11/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special-debuts-friday-december-4-on-apple-tv-together-with-the-full-companion-soundtrack-exclusively-on-apple-music/)
4. [Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special, Cast and Crew, Apple TV Press](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special/cast-crew/)
5. [Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special Reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special/)
6. [Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special, Parents' Guide & Movie Review, Common Sense Media](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special)
7. [Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special, Yellow Studio](https://yellowstudio.com/work/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special/)
8. [Apple and global superstar Mariah Carey team up for "Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special", Apple TV Press](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2020/08/apple-and-global-superstar-mariah-carey-team-for-mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special/)
9. [Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special (Apple TV+ Original Soundtrack), Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/album/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special-apple-tv-original/1541405636)
10. [Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special streaming, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/mariah-careys-magical-christmas-special)
11. [Apple Reportedly in Talks With Mariah Carey to Make 'Magical Christmas Special' Follow-Up, MacRumors](https://www.macrumors.com/2020/12/29/apple-mariah-carey-christmas-special-followup/)
12. [Mariah's Christmas: The Magic Continues, Apple TV Press](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/mariahs-christmas-the-magic-continues/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Unscripted, reality, and web-native series › Web-native and streaming-original series › Comedy, drama, and general-genre web series › Premiered 2017 to 2021*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license