One thing about Mariah Carey, she’s going to stand out. 

The pop diva took the stage at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony, delivering a high-glam medley that blended Domenico Modugno’s Italian classic “Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu)” with her own uplifting track “Nothing Is Impossible.” The performance, sung in part in Italian, drew loud applause from the San Siro crowd and immediate viral reaction online. 

In interviews after the show, Carey told Vogue that honoring the host country by learning and singing “Volare” in Italian felt important, calling the opportunity “a dream come true” and noting that the hopeful message of “Nothing Is Impossible” fit the Olympic spirit. Dressed in a custom white Roberto Cavalli gown with Swarovski embroidery and an ostrich feather stole, Carey leaned into full-tilt Italian couture for the global stage. 

Clips of Carey’s Italian medley flooded feeds, with superfans hailing the moment as pure diva theater: the language switch, the runs, the couture — all the ingredients of a classic Mariah moment. But some viewers called out the live mix and staging, saying the set’s scale made parts of the performance feel muddled in the stadium. Debate aside, one thing’s clear: As usual, Carey has got the people talking.

Carey recently earned the honor of MusiCares Person of the Year, and her appearance on such a global stage reinforced her ongoing cultural relevance. She’s still a draw for worldwide events and a figure whose fashion and musical choices generate conversation. Whether fans were raving or debating, the San Siro performance reminded viewers why Carey remains a curator of grand pop culture greatness, and anytime she’s included in anything, she ends up being the talk of the town.