![\"Mariah](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/02fefe_6b2ddbd1f3dd4541a035059ff8b783cb~mv2.png\")
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Mariah Carey at one of her infamous Christmas concerts (Image credits: Karen Warren\/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Global pop icon Mariah Carey sings a 1958 Eurovision classic at the Winter Olympics 2026 Opening Ceremony. <\/p>\n
The Milan\u2013Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics officially got underway at Milan\u2019s iconic San Siro Stadium, with global pop icon Mariah Carey\u00a0delivering a show-stopping performance that blended contemporary pop with European musical history.<\/p>\n
As part of the Opening Ceremony, Carey performed a stirring rendition of the 1958 Eurovision Song Contest classic Nel blu dipinto di blu, better known worldwide as Volare, paying tribute to one of Italy\u2019s most beloved songs on one of the world\u2019s biggest stages.<\/p>\n
The performance was presented as a medley alongside Carey\u2019s own track Nothing Is Impossible, taken from her sixteenth studio album Here For It All.<\/p>\n
The story behind Volare<\/p>\n
Written by Franco Migliacci\u00a0and Domenico Modugno, Nel blu dipinto di blu\u00a0first captured public attention after winning Italy\u2019s prestigious Sanremo Music Festival\u00a0in 1958. Its joyful melody, poetic imagery and Modugno\u2019s expressive, unconventional performance style quickly set it apart.<\/p>\n
Later that year, the song went on to represent Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest 1958, finishing in third place. Despite not taking the top prize, Volare\u00a0stood out instantly, helping Modugno become one of the first Italian artists to achieve widespread international recognition.<\/p>\n
Global impact and historic success<\/p>\n
While it missed out on Eurovision victory, Volare\u00a0became a worldwide phenomenon. It was named Billboard\u2019s Song of the Year for 1958, topped the US Billboard Hot 100, and sold millions of copies globally, cementing its place as one of the best-selling singles of its era.<\/p>\n
The song also enjoyed major success in Australia, where versions by both Modugno and Dean Martin\u00a0reached No.1.<\/p>\n
Its accolades continued at the inaugural Grammy Awards in 1959, where Volare\u00a0won both Record of the Year\u00a0and Song of the Year, remaining the only foreign-language recording ever to claim both honours.<\/p>\n
An enduring Eurovision legacy<\/p>\n
Decades on, Nel blu dipinto di blu (Volare)\u00a0has become the most covered song in Eurovision history, translated into numerous languages and recorded by artists including Ella Fitzgerald\u00a0and Gipsy Kings. The song continues to feature in films, television, and Eurovision retrospectives, maintaining its status as a timeless cultural classic.<\/p>\n
Carey creates a defining Olympic moment<\/p>\n
By performing Volare\u00a0at one of the world\u2019s largest sporting events, Mariah Carey added a powerful cultural moment\u00a0to the opening of the 2026 Winter Games. Her tribute to Italy\u2019s musical heritage \u2014 set against the dramatic backdrop of San Siro Stadium \u2014 is likely to be remembered as one of the ceremony\u2019s defining highlights.<\/p>\n
![\"Mariah](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/02fefe_4a0af0b83e3547b2b7dabdc2a2883bcf~mv2.png\")
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Mariah Carey performs during the opening ceremony Photo by WANG Zhao \/ AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Carey was first announced as part of the Opening Ceremony lineup in December 2025, generating significant anticipation ahead of the Games.<\/p>\n
Star-studded Opening Ceremony lineup<\/p>\n
Mariah Carey was just one of several high-profile names featured during the Milan\u2013Cortina 2026 Opening Ceremony. Other performers and participants included world-renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, Italian singer-songwriter Laura Pausini<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 winner of Sanremo\u2019s Newcomers section in 1993 and a presenter at Eurovision 2022\u00a0\u2014 acclaimed actor and producer Pierfrancesco Favino, actress Sabrina Impacciatore, and Italian rapper Ghali<\/a>, who competed at Sanremo 2024.<\/p>\n Australian audiences can catch coverage of the Milan\u2013Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Channel 9.<\/p>\n