Mariah Carey sang at the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan because the organizers specifically chose her as a global pop icon to match the emotional, “universal” theme they wanted for the show, and to draw worldwide attention to the Games.

Why Did Mariah Carey Sing at the Olympics?

The Official Reason

  • Organizers said Mariah Carey “fully represents the emotional atmosphere” of the lead‑up to the Games, emphasizing themes of harmony, inspiration, and shared emotion.
  • They highlighted that music is a “universal language” that connects different stories and sensibilities, which fit the opening ceremony’s theme of harmony and unity.
  • As a five‑time Grammy winner and one of the most recognizable pop voices in the world, she was an obvious choice to create a big global moment and attract international media attention.

A Subtle Olympic Connection

  • Carey does have a past Olympic link: her song “100%” was used in an AT&T Team USA compilation tied to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.
  • At the time, she said she was “privileged” to support Team USA and called the Games “inspiring,” framing athletes’ efforts as something artists try to echo through music.

What She Actually Performed

  • At the Milano Cortina 2026 opening ceremony in San Siro Stadium, Carey performed the classic Italian song “Nel blu, dipinto di blu (Volare)” and then her own track “Nothing Is Impossible.”
  • “Nothing Is Impossible” is from her 2025 album Here For It All , so the performance also doubled as a high‑profile showcase for her newer material.
  • She appeared in a white, winter‑themed, sequined dress under a single spotlight in the center of the stadium, leaning into a dramatic, elegant staging rather than a big dance or stadium‑rock style set.

Why People Online Are Asking “Why Her?”

Even though the official reasoning is about emotion and universality, the choice stirred a lot of forum and social chatter.

  • Many viewers questioned why an American, non‑Italian singer was picked to perform such an iconic Italian song at Italy’s home Olympics, asking if there wasn’t a more “authentic” local choice.
  • Social posts and videos criticized her for apparently lip‑syncing in Italian during “Volare,” with some calling the performance “disastrous,” “awful,” or low‑energy.
  • Others defended her, arguing that large, outdoor ceremonies often rely on backing tracks for technical reasons, and that the Olympics regularly invite global stars who aren’t from the host country. (This is a general pattern of past ceremonies, not specific to Carey.)

So the “why did Mariah Carey sing at the Olympics?” question that’s trending now mixes:

  1. The official artistic explanation (emotion, harmony, a universal star).
  1. The marketing reality (huge global name, new song to promote).
  1. The online backlash (lip‑sync accusations, authenticity debates, memes and criticism on social media).

Forum‑Style Take: Different Viewpoints

“They could have picked an Italian legend to sing ‘Volare’ at Italy’s Olympics, but instead we got Mariah half‑lip‑syncing. Why?” – typical critical forum comment paraphrased from social media sentiment.

Common viewpoints you’ll see in forum and comment threads:

  • Pro‑Mariah angle
    • She’s a global diva with a once‑in‑a‑generation voice, so inviting her signals that Milan Cortina 2026 wants a big, glamorous, world‑stage feel.
* Performing an Italian classic plus a motivational anthem (“Nothing Is Impossible”) fits the Olympics’ inspirational branding.
  • Critical angle
    • People argue the performance felt static and under‑energized, especially compared with other acts like Laura Pausini and Andrea Bocelli.
* Lip‑sync accusations made some fans feel the moment was inauthentic for such a symbolic event.
  • Neutral / context angle
    • Large outdoor ceremonies often pre‑record vocals for safety and broadcast quality, so some viewers see the lip‑sync talk as overblown and mostly about expectations rather than anything unusual. (This point is based on common production practices, not a specific confession in the articles.)

How This Fits into 2026’s “Trending Topic” Moment

The question “why did Mariah Carey sing at the Olympics” has turned into a trending topic because it combines:

  • Celebrity news (a rare non‑holiday, non‑NYE performance from Carey in a very high‑profile setting).
  • Live‑event controversy (lip‑sync, energy level, and song choice debates).
  • National pride and cultural questions (Italian audiences and global fans asking whether a local artist should have fronted such an iconic moment).

In short, she sang at the Olympics because organizers wanted a universal superstar voice to embody emotion, harmony, and inspiration at the opening ceremony—then the internet did what it always does and turned that choice into a full‑blown discourse.

TL;DR:
Mariah Carey was invited to sing at the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony because organizers saw her as a globally recognized, emotionally powerful artist whose music fit their theme of harmony and inspiration; she performed “Volare” and her song “Nothing Is Impossible,” but the choice and the performance sparked online debates about authenticity, lip‑syncing, and whether a non‑Italian star should have led such a symbolic moment.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.