Ariana Grande Reimagines a Holiday Classic During ‘SNL’ Monologue
Gracing the Studio 8H stage for the final Saturday Night Live installment of 2025, Ariana Grande delivered a spirited reimagining of Mariah Carey’s perennial holiday anthem. The 32-year-old superstar closed out the year with a monologue that balanced self-deprecating humor with her signature vocal prowess.
During the December 20 broadcast, Grande initially joked about the viral success of her previous “Domingo” sketch before pivoting to the universal chaos of last-minute seasonal preparations. She transformed Carey’s 1994 hit, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” into a comedic lament regarding the difficulties of holiday gift-giving.
“I don’t know what to get for Christmas for my cousin’s boyfriend Steve,” Grande sang. “I don’t know a thing about him, only see him on Christmas Eve.”
The Wicked star also made light of her intensive promotional duties for the film’s “For Good” press tour, playfully suggesting that director Jon M. Chu’s rigorous itinerary left her with very little personal time.
“Haven’t shopped a lot for Christmas, ’cause my schedule’s never free,” she joked through song. “Had so much press for Wicked, Jon Chu will not let me pee.”
Grande was eventually joined on stage by a festive ensemble of cast members, including Bowen Yang, Kenan Thompson, Sarah Sherman, Chloe Fineman, Veronika Slowikowska, Marcello Hernandez, and Ashley Padilla. The tribute comes at a historic moment for the original track; Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” recently secured its 20th week atop the Billboard Hot 100, the most enduring reign in the chart’s nearly seven-decade history.
This appearance marked Grande’s third time at the helm as SNL host. The evening was further elevated by musical guest Cher, making her first return to the program since 1987. The legendary icon performed her contemporary hit “DJ Play a Christmas Song” alongside a high-energy rendition of Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run,” both featured on her 2023 album, Christmas.
