Mariah Carey's Italian Connection Explained: Winter Olympics 2026 Opening Ceremony Performance Sparks Curiosity

Mariah

Carey officially kicked off the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics officially opened at Milan’s iconic San Siro Stadium. Carey took center stage during the opening ceremony, delivering a performance that blended Italian musical heritage with global star power and immediately sparked curiosity about her connection to Italy. Appearing in a glittering white gown and a dramatic cape, Carey was greeted by roaring cheers as she performed in front of a packed stadium, with the ceremony framed around themes of harmony, innovation, and cultural celebration.

All On Mariah Carey’s Italian Connection

While Carey may not have a direct personal or professional link to Italy, her familiarity with Italian music traces back to her childhood. Her mother was a Juilliard-trained opera singer, and Carey has recalled in her autobiography a defining moment from when she was just 3 years old. Listening to her mother struggle through an aria from Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto, Carey said she sang it back flawlessly in Italian. The moment, she wrote, marked the first time her mother truly saw her as a musician.That early exposure came full circle in Milan. Carey performed Domenico Modugno’s “Nel blu, dipinto di blu,” globally known as “Volare,” entirely in Italian, marking the first time in her career she has delivered a performance fully in the language. First released in 1958, “Volare” represented Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest and went on to become Billboard’s Song of the Year. Modugno’s original recording also made history by winning both record of the year and song of the year at the first Annual Grammy Awards. The song has since been covered by artists ranging from Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin to David Bowie and the Gipsy Kings.Carey then transitioned into “Nothing Is Impossible,” a track from her latest album, Here For It All, performing in English. Olympic organizers said her career and artistry reflect the ceremony’s central theme of “harmony,” while also underscoring the international scope of the event.In December 2025, when her appearance was first announced, Carey greeted fans in Italian in an Instagram video, saying, “See you in Milan!” She was the first performer officially confirmed for the opening ceremony, which also featured or included appearances by Andrea Bocelli, Laura Pausini, Pierfrancesco Favino, and Sabrina Impacciatore.