MARIAH CAREY STILL SLEIGHS THE HOLIDAY SEASON

THE MUSIC SUPERSTAR IS MAKING THE YULETIDE GAY WITH A NEW TOY AND A CHRISTMAS TOUR-WITH HER TWINS IN TOW!

-  JASON SHEELER

Mariah Carey is shining like a star atop a Christmas tree. At her People shoot in an L.A. photo studio in November, the Grammy-winning icon turns, poses and plays with her hair when suddenly, as her 2005 song "Joy Ride" plays, a spotlight lands on her. Her gold dress refracts the light over the entire room like a disco ball as the superstar has an "aha" moment. "This looks like an ornament," Carey, 54, remarks, looking down at her dress. Dubbed the Queen of Christmas by her beloved fans, Carey has built a holiday empire, including two Christmas albums, a children’s book and now a holiday-themed Barbie (see box). Since her debut in 1990, Carey—outmatched in No. 1 hits only by the Beatles—has shaped the pop-music landscape with her prolific catalog and a five-octave range. She’s also influenced not only how we celebrate Christmas (her smash hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is holiday canon) but also when we celebrate it. Every year on Nov. 1, Carey kicks off the season by declaring, “It’s time,” and pressing play on her jingly, jangly Dec. 25th anthem, which she calls “a love song for Christmas.”

Here the singer—who kicked off her holiday tour on Nov. 15—opens up about how she’ll spend the most wonderful time of the year with her 12-year-old twins, Moroccan and Monroe (whom she shares with ex Nick Cannon, 43).