When Mariah Carey stepped onto the BET Awards stage in a custom silver holographic gown, the crowd erupted. At 56, the iconic diva didn’t just perform—she owned the night, delivering a career-defining moment that shattered ageist stereotypes and reminded the world why she’s still the Queen of Christmas (and every other season).
The Performance That Broke the Internet
Mariah opened with a surprise medley:
🎤 “Fantasy (Bad Boy Remix)” – but with a 2025 trap beat twist
🎶 “We Belong Together” – stripped down to a piano ballad, showcasing her still-flawless whistle notes
🎆 “All I Want for Christmas Is You” – in June, complete with fake snow and a choir of child singers
The climax? When her gown’s strap snapped mid-high note—and she nonchalantly held it up with one hand while hitting a perfect F6 whistle, grinning at the audience. The moment went instantly viral as #MariahStillGotIt trended worldwide.
Silencing the Critics
In the lead-up to the awards, trolls had questioned:
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“Can she still hit the high notes?” (She did.)
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“Is she relevant?” (Her medley got 3 million YouTube views in 1 hour.)
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“Why is she performing at this age?” (Her clapback: “Why are you still talking at yours?”)*
Backstage, Mariah told reporters:
“Age is a number, honey. My voice? That’s eternal.”
The Bigger Message
The performance sparked conversations about:
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Ageism in music (Why are female artists “expired” at 40 while Mick Jagger still tours at 80?)
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The pressure to “retire” (Mariah’s response: *”Retire from what? Breathing?”)
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Owning your legacy (She closed the set with a new song, “Still Divine”, celebrating self-reinvention)
What’s Next?
Rumors swirl about:
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A Las Vegas residency revival
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A collab with Beyoncé on a remix of “Emotions”
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Her tell-all documentary dropping Christmas 2025 (“Because of course it’s Christmas,” she joked)