A new Star magazine report has drawn comparisons between Mariah Carey and Sabrina Carpenter, framing the two pop stars as leading contenders in this year’s holiday music season.
According to the insider-based report, Carey — long known as the “Queen of Christmas” — is closely watching Carpenter’s growing festive influence, particularly as both singers roll out seasonal content, concerts, and brand campaigns through the end of 2025.
The analysis comes as Carey resumes her “Merry Christmas One and All” tour across Asia, while Carpenter’s Fruitcake EP and Netflix’s A Nonsense Christmas continue to chart and stream globally.
Holiday Strategy and Performances
Per Star’s coverage, a source described a competitive dynamic between Mariah Carey and Sabrina Carpenter. The insider stated:
“It’s never good to have someone more than half your age with a massive fan base trying to come after your business — and make no mistake, that is how Mariah views Christmas.”
The source added that “Sabrina seems to be biting at her heels.”
Carpenter, 26, has steadily built a December music identity, beginning with her 2023 Fruitcake EP and expanding with her 2024 Netflix special A Nonsense Christmas. That rollout led to her holiday album reentering the Billboard 200 at No. 10, logging the year’s biggest vinyl sales week for a seasonal title.
Meanwhile, Carey’s presence remains unmatched in scale, with “All I Want for Christmas Is You” already reemerging across streaming platforms and radio playlists as her tour continues through Asia and Europe.
Industry Observations and Source Commentary
The same insider noted Carey’s protective stance over her signature season, saying:
“Mariah’s made Christmas a cottage industry for herself. She rakes in so much money from it, but like most artists, she always fears someone could come along and take that from her. Plenty certainly try — they see all the money she’s making and they want a piece of it!”
Industry watchers have interpreted the remarks as less about rivalry and more about market positioning, noting that both stars approach the holiday economy from different ends of the spectrum: Carey’s legacy and tradition, and Carpenter’s youth-driven discovery and streaming energy.
Branding, Charts, and Market Stakes
The overlap between Mariah Carey and Sabrina Carpenter represents a generational shift in the seasonal music business.
Carey’s annual resurgence continues to dominate charts, with her 1994 hit routinely topping Billboard’s Holiday 100 and Spotify’s global charts each December. However, Carpenter’s strategic rollout of holiday content over consecutive years has created a new, digital-native holiday presence — drawing younger listeners and viral engagement.
Analysts point out that while Carey controls catalogue-driven streaming and touring income, Carpenter is establishing recurring relevance through new creative content and multi-platform promotion. Both benefit, but the competition for streaming attention and brand sponsorships intensifies each holiday season.
What’s Next: Tours, Releases, and Chart Tracking
As of November 2025, Mariah Carey continues her holiday world tour, performing classic hits including “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and “Oh Santa!” in Singapore, Tokyo, and Seoul before returning to the U.S. for December residencies.
Sabrina Carpenter, meanwhile, is expected to release an expanded holiday edition of Fruitcake alongside select North American pop-up performances and brand tie-ins through December.
Chart analysts expect weekly updates comparing both artists’ streaming metrics, radio impressions, and TikTok trends as the festive season progresses.
