From the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles, ABC Television Network presents international superstar Mariah Carey in the music special, “Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to You,” MONDAY, DECEMBER 13 (9:00-10:00 p.m., ET). The special will feature Mariah performing songs from her new holiday album, Merry Christmas II You, available Tuesday, November 2nd on the Island Def Jam Music Group.
Viewers are in for a special treat as Carey sings unforgettable renditions of yuletide classics and original tunes, including her new holiday hit, “Oh, Santa!” In the spirit of giving, the program will also feature Carey surprising some very special fans and helping to make their wishes come true.
Joel Gallen will direct the special and serve as executive producer alongside Carey.
Carey’s new holiday CD, Merry Christmas II You, is her 13th studio album and features a selection of traditional yuletide classics + 4 original songs composed by her (including first single “Oh Santa!”) and a brand new recording of her all-time standard, “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Merry Christmas II You follows up her worldwide multi-million-selling Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel (released September 2009), her multi-platinum E=MC_ (2008), and worldwide 10 million selling The Emancipation of Mimi (2005). The Emancipation of Mimi generated three Grammy Awards (including Best Contemporary R&B Album), two #1 singles, and countless more honors during its 18-month chart stay. Soundscan’s biggest-selling album of 2005, Mimi, featured “We Belong Together” (Grammy winner for Best Female R&B Vocal and Best R&B Song) and “Don’t Forget About Us,” Carey’s 16th and 17th #1 career singles, respectively. They tied one of the most enduring chart records in Billboard Hot 100 history, Elvis Presley’s 17 #1’s.
Three years later, Carey surpassed Elvis when “Touch My Body” (from E=MC_) became her 18th #1 Hot 100 hit. “Touch My Body” spent two weeks at the top, Carey’s 78th and 79th cumulative career weeks at #1, which tied Elvis’ long-standing all-time high of 79 weeks at #1, as calculated by Billboard. Carey is now positioned as the only active recording artist in the 50 years of the Hot 100 (which began in 1958) with the potential to surpass the Beatles’ all-time high of 20 #1 hits. The success of E=MC_ brought total sales of Carey’s albums, singles and videos to more than 200 million worldwide, distancing her even further from the pack as the top-selling female recording artist in history.