Mariah Carey loses bid to be crowned ‘Queen of Christmas’
The world-famous ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ singer was rejected in her attempt to trademark the track on Tuesday, just weeks before Christmas, following a court battle that began in March 2021.
One of the things Carey and her team wanted to do was claim the nickname so it could be used on merchandise. The trademark application also included “QOC”, “Princess of Christmas” and “Christmas Princess”. According to the documents, such phrases would be used on fragrances, nail polish, mugs, lingerie and even coconut water, among other things.
With the iconic single selling more than 16 million copies worldwide – making it the 11th best-selling single of all time – Carey is the obvious choice for many as the Queen of Christmas.
But before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office could make a decision, musician Elizabeth Chan, who spent over a decade building her own career as a Christmas singer and releasing 12 albums, filed a formal notice of opposition to the trademark Holiday. Chan even named her own daughter Noelle and started her own label called Merry Bright Music.
Chan sees herself in part as the Queen of Christmas after being described as such in a 2018 profile of The New Yorker. She subsequently used it as the title of her 2021 album.
Far from taking responsibility, however, Chan claims she firmly believes that everyone can and should be free to take responsibility. In August, she told Variety, “I truly believe that no one should hold on to anything around Christmas or monopolize it in the way Mariah Forever tries to… Christmas is for everyone. It is meant to be shared; it is not destined to possess.”
Even Carey herself appeared to have dismissed the description in an interview on The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show in 2021 — a detail Chan’s attorney noted in the statement. Carey said, “I just want to humbly say that I don’t think of myself that way,” adding that she just loves Christmas and that “Mary [mother of Jesus] is the queen of Christmas.”
Victory for multiple Christmas Queens
On Tuesday, Chan won her challenge when the board ruled that the title doesn’t belong to anyone at all — officially. Carey’s team reportedly ignored the opposing filing in a “classic brand bullying case,” according to Chan’s attorney.
“It was difficult being the one to stand up to Carey,” Chan said in a Page Six report after the decision. She added that there was a need to “protect and save Christmas”.
Chan isn’t the only musician celebrating, as singer Darlene Love was also crowned by David Letterman with her hit “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” over 30 years ago.
Meanwhile, Brenda Lee, who sang “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” can keep her crown, too. Just like Dolly Parton, who was even given permission by Carey in a recent tweet.
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