Is Mariah Carey lip-syncing at the Olympics? Winter Games opening ceremony sparks mixed reactions

Mariah Carey officially kicked off the 2026 Winter Olympics with a headline performance at the opening ceremony in Milan. The Grammy-winning singer took the stage at Stadio San Siro, blending Italian music, Olympic symbolism, and pop spectacle. While the moment thrilled many fans in the stadium, it also triggered immediate debate online. By the end of the night, Carey’s performance had become one of the most talked-about moments of the ceremony.

What role did Mariah Carey play at the opening ceremony?

Mariah Carey was the first performer announced for the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony, a reveal made back in December. Organizers billed her set as a fusion of “Italian spirit, innovation (and) emotion,” produced by Balich Wonder Studio. Performing at Stadio San Siro, Carey opened the Games with a high-profile appearance designed to set the tone for the international event.



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Dressed in a blinged-out all-white ensemble complete with a feather coat, the 55-year-old singer commanded the stage as the ceremony unfolded. The production leaned heavily into Italian themes, pairing Carey’s global star power with music deeply tied to Italy’s cultural history, as per a report by USA Today and The Daily Mail.

What songs did Mariah Carey perform at the Winter Olympics?

Carey’s performance featured two songs presented as an Italo-American medley. She first performed the iconic 1958 Italian classic “Nel blu, dipinto di blu,” widely known as “Volare.” As she sang in Italian, the stadium responded with loud cheers, and hundreds of fans in Cortina could be heard singing along, as per a report by USA Today.

She then transitioned into “Nothing Is Impossible,” a 2025 ballad from her latest album Here for it All. The song’s theme of perseverance aligned closely with the Olympic message of overcoming obstacles, making it a symbolic choice for the ceremony’s opening moments.

Why did Mariah Carey's lip-syncing accusations dominate social media?

Despite the applause inside the venue, the reaction online was far less forgiving. Almost immediately, viewers on X began accusing Carey of lip-syncing during her performance, particularly while singing in Italian, as quoted in a report by the Daily Mail.

One user wrote, “I haven't seen a worse lip sync performance than this in years.”
Another commented, “Some of the most awful lip syncing by Mariah Carey [facepalm emoji] come on Italy, you have your own singers!!”

Other posts claimed Carey appeared stiff, moved her lips out of sync with the audio, or looked like she was reading from a teleprompter. One viewer posted, “The worst part is that Mariah Carey isn’t even trying to hide the fact she’s lip syncing.” Another added, “Mariah Carey is lip syncing at the Olympics.”

The backlash spread rapidly as the opening ceremony continued, turning Carey’s performance into a trending topic during the global broadcast, as quoted in a report by the Daily Mail.

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How did fans inside Italy respond to the performance?

While online criticism intensified, the live audience reaction painted a different picture. In Cortina, the crowd audibly roared when Carey began singing “Volare,” recognizing the beloved Italian song almost instantly. Fans sang along in Italian, creating one of the ceremony’s loudest moments.

Carey wore an Italian Fausto Puglisi gown, reinforcing the cultural tribute embedded in her performance. The contrast between the stadium’s enthusiasm and the online backlash highlighted the divide between live audience energy and social media scrutiny.

FAQs

Did Mariah Carey perform live at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony?
Viewers online accused Carey of lip-syncing, though fans in the stadium reacted with loud applause and sing-alongs.

What songs did Mariah Carey sing at the Olympics?
She performed “Volare” in Italian and followed it with her 2025 song “Nothing Is Impossible.”