Darlene Love, the legendary singer behind the holiday classic “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” has dismissed rumors of a feud with Mariah Carey over the coveted “Queen of Christmas” title. In a recent interview, Love, 83, clarified that the perceived tension stems primarily from fan speculation and not from any personal animosity between the two artists. She believes that the title is not exclusive and that everyone can embrace the spirit of Christmas and be a “Queen of Christmas” in their own right.
Love revealed that Carey, 55, even reached out to her personally to express her admiration for “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” a song Carey grew up listening to. This direct communication further reinforces Love’s assertion that the supposed rivalry is largely a media fabrication.
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Darlene Love performing live in New Jersey in September 2024.
The controversy ignited in 2022 when Carey attempted to trademark the “Queen of Christmas” phrase, drawing criticism from Love and fellow Christmas musician Elizabeth Chan, who even pursued legal action against Carey. Love publicly questioned the implications of the trademark on her own use of the title. However, Carey subsequently acknowledged Love’s iconic status in Christmas music on social media, praising her contribution and referring to Love as the true “Queen of Christmas.”
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Mariah Carey performing on her Christmas Time Tour in California in November 2024.
Love’s response to Carey’s online tribute was gracious, expressing gratitude and suggesting a potential collaboration: re-recording “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” together. Love’s representative later confirmed her eagerness to collaborate with Carey and clarified that while Love admired Carey, she disagreed with the trademark attempt.
Following a successful re-recording of the song with Cher in 2024, Love hinted that a collaboration with Carey might still be possible. She expressed optimism that “good things can come around — any day, any time now,” suggesting that a joint project could materialize in the future. This reinforces the positive relationship between the two artists and suggests a shared passion for creating Christmas music.
