MILAN (AP) – The opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics featured a standout performance by Mariah Carey, which sparked significant discussion in the media and among viewers. The American pop singer delivered a rendition of the beloved Italian classic “Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu,” prominently known as “Volare.” This performance was a highlight in the three-and-a-half-hour spectacle that marked the commencement of the Winter Games.
Following her appearance, Carey expressed her enthusiasm on Instagram, stating, “Such a dream come true to perform (in Italian!) at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony.” Many applauded her performance, praising her vocal abilities and stage presence. However, it also led to various criticisms and questions regarding her selection for the event and her singing capabilities in Italian.
Viewers expressed confusion online, questioning why an Italian artist was not chosen for such a significant cultural moment. Additionally, some commenters noted the presence of a large teleprompter displaying phonetic spellings of the Italian lyrics, leading to speculation about whether Carey was lip-syncing during her performance. This prompted three reporters, including those from the Associated Press, to inquire about these aspects during the International Olympic Committee's daily news conference the following day.
Carey's background was also brought into the conversation. The singer, who was born in New York, has Irish American and Venezuelan ancestry. Despite her non-Italian background, the local organizing committee had actively pursued Carey for the opening ceremony, marketing her as a significant performer to attract attention to the Winter Games.
Maria Laura Iascone, the director of ceremonies for Milan Cortina, defended Carey’s selection, calling her performance “exceptional” and a “magic moment.” There remains uncertainty regarding whether Carey personally chose to sing “Volare.” However, in a subsequent interview, she revealed that the song has always been a favorite of hers. The ceremony also showcased other renowned Italian artists, including tenor Andrea Bocelli, singer-songwriter Laura Pausini, and mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli.
While many applauded Carey’s performance, some observers suggested online that she appeared somewhat stiff while singing in a language that is not her native tongue. Despite this, the audience in the San Siro Stadium reacted enthusiastically when they realized she was performing in Italian, culminating in an impressive rendition of her own song, “Nothing is Impossible.”
When Iascone was asked if Carey had lip-synced during her performance, she sidestepped the inquiry and focused on praising the singer as “really extraordinary.” She mentioned that, as a standard precaution for major international broadcasts, performances are often pre-recorded to ensure quality. However, Iascone did not directly confirm or deny any allegations of lip-syncing and clarified that Carey was not compensated for her performance.
Another point of interest was the teleprompter that displayed phonetic pronunciations of the Italian lyrics for Carey’s song. For example, it rendered "Volare" as "Voh-lah-reh" and "Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu" as "Nell blue Dee-peen-toe D blue." Social media commentary, including posts from notable figures such as Italian high jumper Gianmarco Tamberi, saw these phonetic lyrics gain considerable traction online, accumulating hundreds of thousands of views.
In response to media inquiries, Iascone confirmed the presence of the teleprompter, stating, “Of course there was a teleprompter.” She explained that it was utilized “especially for those artists who sang in a different language than their own native language,” emphasizing that it served to aid performers with pronunciation during their acts.
