North Carolina Town Cary Honors Mariah Carey by Renaming Itself 'Carey' on Nov. 1 Each Year

Mar. 15, 2025

Mariah Carey in Beverly Hills in October 2019.Photo:Amy Sussman/FilmMagic

Amy Sussman/FilmMagic

Mariah Careymay not be able to legally claim to be the sole “Queen of Christmas” — but she can say that she (kinda) has a town named after her.

Cary is a populous town in North Carolina with a history long before the R&B star, have been founded in 1750. The town’s name is pronounced the same as Carey, so Mayor Harold Weinbrecht decided to lean into it and honor the singer’s legacy.

Weinbrecht took to the airwaves on local station Mix 101.5 to declare that on Nov. 1, the town will be renamed “Carey” for “One Sweet Day,” a play on Carey’s hit song. After all, the town just needs one extra letter. Inan Instagram video, a woman is seen adding a lit “E” in the town’s name. Other photos in the collection show the proud mayor posing with the official proclamation.

The temporary annual change is said to honor “the holiday magic that she brings each year,” and it’s a role Carey takes very seriously.

On Nov. 1, the same day Cary announced the name change and a day after Halloween, the “Emotions” singer dropped anAddams Family-inspired videoto announce that the holiday season has begun. The countdown in the video turns the dark and gloomy set into a Christmas wonderland, and Carey is of course dressed in the fur-lined red dress similar to the one on herMerry Christmasalbum cover.

Mariah Carey performing in Las Vegas in April 2024.Denise Truscello/Getty

Denise Truscello/Getty

There’s even amassive lawn inflatablewith Carey herself navigating reindeer on a sleigh.

According to apress releasefrom the museum, Carey loved the display, saying, “Oh my gosh, it’s surreal. Very good!”

source: people.com