10 Reasons Why Mariah Carey Is – and Always Will Be – the Queen of Christmas

Mariah Carey is the queen of a lot of things – Norwegian salmon, eight-part reality docuseries, elaborate bustiers. Yet every year when the holidays roll around, we’re reminded of Carey’s most important political role of all: Queen of Christmas.

Not only does the “All I Want For Christmas Is You” singer have one of the most iconic Christmas albums of all time (sorry, Justin Bieber), Carey cherishes the spirit of the holidays and spreads a truly shocking amount of cheer.

As if you needed a reminder … here is the definitive, scientifically backed proof that Mariah is the Reason for the Season.

1. Carey’s 1994 “All I Want For Christmas Is You” is the most successful (and catchiest) Christmas pop tune of all time.

According to Tech Times, it’s also the 11th-highest selling single of all time and has earned more than $50 million for Carey and cowriter Walter Afanasieff.

“I’m a very festive person and I love the holidays. I’ve sung Christmas songs since I was a little girl. I used to go Christmas caroling,” Carey said at the time. “I wrote it just out of love for Christmas and like really loving Christmas music,” she added in 2015.

2. She did a Christmas-themed Carpool Karaoke with James Corden and it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to us.

Carey reunited with the Late Late Show host for her second time in the passenger seat. While Corden wore an oversized green “ugly” holiday sweater, Carey would not be tricked into wearing something dowdy. Instead, she opted for a sexy Balmain red leather jacket – zipped low to show off her cleavage and bejeweled bra.

3. Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” show at N.Y.C’s Beacon Theatre is the most magical event of all time … and not just because Beyoncé once dropped in, though that certainly added to the allure.

Backstage, Beyoncé met Carey’s twins, 5-year-old Moroccan and Monroe, and it was the cutest thing ever.

Andy Cohen showed up one night as well, uploading an Instagram video of Carey singing her iconic song.

4. When it comes to Santa, Carey still has childlike wonder.

She even seems more excited than her 5-year-olds to see Santa on stage.

5. Her dressing room at the Beacon has a Christmas tree in it.

And presumably Norwegian salmon and capers, out of frame.

6. Last year, she celebrated two Christmases. (One in December and one in January.) You can’t make this up.

In January 2016, Carey shared several photos on Instagram showing off even more Christmas cheer. “Christmas revisited….#couldntresistmakinganotherchristmastree #thoughitsjanuary.”

“To clear up any confusion…here is us putting up a NEW little tree last night,” she captioned a photo of her freshly decorated tree.

7. Last year, she wrote a children’s book based on “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

“When I wrote ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ it was my dream for it to become a classic Christmas song,” Carey told PEOPLE in a 2015 statement. “I am so proud of the song’s impact as it continues to create memories for fans each year.”

She added: “I am thrilled to be able to bring the story of the song to new generations of families with the picture book.”

The book features the complete lyrics of Carey’s tune set to pictures of a little girl whose greatest holiday wish is for a new puppy (the most relatable narrative of our time).

8. This year, Carey put her Christmas lights up before Thanksgiving.

Queen. Of. Christmas.

9. She designed a Christmas-themed makeup collection for M.A.C.

In November, Carey announced her latest partnership with the brand in a Tweet: “I’m so excited to finally share my full @MACcosmetics collection – coming in December! Add it to your holiday wish list #MACMariahCarey.”

And the line is just as dazzling, over-the-top and extravagant as you’d expect. (It includes 25 “diamond” dusted items in total, as well as a bronze highlighter embossed with a caricature of her face.)

10. She looks better in red than any other human on this planet.

Mariah, we thank you for keeping our Christmases so magical … and thank you for the idea of throwing a second Christmas in January. We can’t believe we’d never thought of that before.