Gwen Stefani Poised To Replace Mariah Carey In Iconic Role

For decades, Mariah Carey has stood unchallenged at the top of the holiday music mountain—a place so culturally secure that the sound of her voice has practically become the nation’s unofficial signal that the festive season has begun.

But this year, as snowflakes and speculation start to fall at the same time, fans are whispering a surprising possibility: Is Gwen Stefani quietly stepping up to claim the Christmas throne?

Mariah Carey: The Once-and-Forever Empress of December

Mariah Carey didn’t just build a career—she built a legacy. When she burst onto the scene in 1990 with “Vision of Love,” it became immediately clear that her voice was something rare. And as the years rolled on, she kept stacking Top 10 hit after Top 10 hit like ornaments on an already extravagant tree.

But everything changed in 1994.

That was the year she dropped Merry Christmas and gifted the world “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” The song didn’t just chart; it became tradition.

Every November, radio stations resurrect it like clockwork, and the internet joins in with its annual ritual: jokes about Mariah “defrosting” as Halloween fades and the holiday lights start to twinkle.

There’s a reason people call her the “Queen of Christmas”—she’s earned the title through cultural ubiquity alone.

Enter Gwen Stefani: A New Contender Sparkling on the Horizon

While Mariah was already rewriting pop history, a teenage Gwen Stefani was stepping onto a very different path—joining her brother’s band No Doubt back in 1986.

It took almost a decade before they broke into mainstream success, but when they did in 1996 with “Just a Girl” and “Don’t Speak,” Gwen quickly became an icon of her own.

Fast-forward through solo careers, reunions, and genre shifts, and Gwen is now circling into holiday territory with renewed energy.

Her 2017 Christmas album, You Make It Feel Like Christmas, has been revived with a deluxe 2024 edition featuring two new tracks: “Hot Cocoa” and “Shake the Snow Globe.” She performed the songs live at NBC’s Christmas in Rockefeller Center, where social media exploded with praise.

One fan even fired a playful shot heard across the timeline:

“Gwen Stefani is the new ‘Queen of Christmas.’ Look out, Mariah!!!”

Whether serious or not, the comment captured a growing conversation—Gwen might be edging into territory long thought exclusive to Carey.

What Christmas Music Means to Gwen Stefani

Stefani isn’t approaching holiday music as a trend or a marketing move—she’s deeply connected to the emotional gravity of it. While promoting the album at KOST 1035, she opened up about the place Christmas songs hold in her life.

“When Christmas comes around, you feel so nostalgic and so like those songs are part of your life,” she said.

She explained the difference between regular albums and seasonal ones, adding, “I think regular albums do that as well, but with this you only get to hear it that one time of year, so it makes it even more special or something. You miss it more.”

And then she revealed what many artists feel but rarely admit outright:

“I think anybody that writes music would want to have a Christmas hit. That’s the ultimate win, in a sense, to be a part of people’s Christmas.”

Her sincerity—and ambition—makes the conversation even more interesting.

Is It Really a Rivalry? Or Just a New Chapter in Holiday Music?

Mariah Carey isn’t going anywhere—her crown is reinforced by decades of cultural imprint. But Gwen Stefani is undeniably carving out her own corner of holiday cheer, showing up with fresh music, standout performances, and genuine affection for the season.

Maybe there’s room for more than one reigning queen in December. After all, Christmas is big enough for multiple anthems—and multiple icons.

But one thing is clear: this year, Gwen Stefani isn’t just ringing sleigh bells. She’s making noise.

Be sure to catch up on everything happening with Gwen Stefani now. Come back here often for all Gwen Stefani spoilers, news, and updates.