The Mariah Carey Christmas Song That Went To Faith Hill Instead

Ah, Christmas 2000—a simpler time of Blockbuster rentals, glittery tinsel, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas dominating theaters. It was a season of holiday magic, brought to life by Jim Carrey’s delightfully chaotic Grinch and a soundtrack that rivaled Santa’s sleigh in star power. Yet, amidst all the festive joy, we lost what could have been the greatest Christmas anthem of our time. Why? Because of one man: Tommy Mottola.

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A Festive Feud Fit for a Grinch

As the story goes, Mariah Carey—queen of Christmas and vocal acrobatics—wasn't just slated to sing Where Are You Christmas; she co-wrote it. That’s right! Alongside James Horner and Will Jennings, she crafted the heartstring-pulling melody and lyrics that became the emotional backbone of the Grinch soundtrack. Not only did she write the song, but she also recorded her own version before Faith Hill even entered the picture.

But, alas, the queen’s song was snatched away. Tommy Mottola, then head of Sony Music and Mariah’s freshly minted ex-husband, reportedly blocked her from releasing it, ensuring her version stayed locked away in the metaphorical vault. And there it remains, gathering dust while we mere mortals settle for imagining what her crystalline vocals would’ve sounded like paired with that wistful holiday tune.

Mariah’s Vault of Christmas Past

Faith Hill eventually recorded the song, and her version is lovely—no shade to Faith. But Mariah? She would’ve transformed it into something untouchable, a shimmering beacon of yuletide perfection. And here’s the kicker: Mariah herself has confirmed that her version of Where Are You Christmas is still tucked away in her vault of unreleased projects.

During interviews, she’s teased that she’d love to release it someday, and knowing Mariah’s penchant for delivering holiday miracles (cue “All I Want for Christmas Is You” dominating the charts every December), she very well might. One day, we could finally hear the vocals we deserved all along. Until then, we wait with bated breath—and Spotify on standby.

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The Ghost of Christmas Songs Yet to Come

Imagine it: Mariah’s whistle tones soaring over a soft orchestration, imbuing every note with that bittersweet mix of longing and hope. It’s the Christmas gift we never got, thanks to an unfortunate case of music industry pettiness.

But all hope is not lost. Mariah, the undisputed Empress of Christmas, has a history of turning the impossible into reality. Perhaps one day, Where Are You Christmas will escape its vault and join the ranks of her timeless holiday catalog. Until then, here’s to what could have been—a carol lost but never forgotten.

And to Tommy Mottola? Congratulations. You didn’t just block a song; you blocked a cultural moment. Well done.