Mariah Carey, the iconic singer of the holiday classic “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” has been forced to cancel two more concerts on her Christmas Time tour due to a persistent bout with the flu.
The cancellations, announced on December 13th via X (formerly Twitter), affect shows scheduled for the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, and the UBS Arena in Belmont Park, New York. Carey expressed her disappointment, stating, “Newark and Belmont — I wish I had better news but unfortunately I’m still sick and have to cancel the shows tonight [Dec. 13] and on Sunday. I’m really devastated about it and appreciate your support.”
This news comes just days after Carey canceled her Pittsburgh concert, also due to the flu. The Pittsburgh show was scheduled for December 11th at the PPG Paints Arena. With these recent cancellations, only one show remains on Carey’s tour: a performance at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on December 17th. As of yet, there has been no official word on whether the final show will proceed as planned.
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While Carey’s illness is undoubtedly a setback for fans eager to experience her Christmas spectacle, it comes at a time of significant achievement for the singer. “All I Want for Christmas Is You” recently reclaimed its spot at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, marking its annual return to holiday dominance.
The chart-topping success was celebrated with a heartwarming surprise during Carey’s Raleigh, North Carolina show on December 9th. Her 13-year-old twins, Monroe and Moroccan, whom she shares with ex-husband Nick Cannon, presented her with flowers on stage after an announcement of the song’s number one status.
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The milestone coincides with the 30th anniversary of Carey’s iconic Christmas album, Merry Christmas, which features the timeless holiday hit. To commemorate the anniversary, a deluxe edition of the album has been released. In anticipation of her Christmas tour earlier this year, Carey hinted at exciting new elements in the show, including never-before-performed songs and collaborations with notable figures like Debbie Allen, the creative director and choreographer for the tour. Whether these planned surprises will be realized in the remaining scheduled performance, or potential rescheduled dates, remains to be seen.
