Mariah Carey’s performance of the iconic Italian song Volare (Nel blu dipinto di blu) at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics drew immediate scrutiny from audiences who felt the rendition did not live up to expectations and that an Italian vocalist might have served the moment better.

Carey, an American singer known for her whistle register and global pop hits, delivered the Italian classic, written by Domenico Modugno in 1958 and long associated with Italy’s musical heritage, from the stage of Milan’s San Siro Stadium on February 6, 2026. Alongside her own song Nothing Is Impossible, the performance was intended to celebrate Italian culture and the Olympic theme of harmony.

However, criticism mounted during and after the broadcast. Many viewers pointed out that Carey’s Italian pronunciation sounded uncertain, leading organisers to display large teleprompters with phonetic cues so she could read the lyrics, a move that some onlookers found distracting and undermining for such a symbolic moment. Online commentators argued that if the intention was to honour Italy’s cultural legacy, selecting an Italian singer with deep familiarity with the language and tradition, or at least someone with stronger Italian vocal command, would have been more fitting.

Additional backlash focused on performance execution rather than cultural representation.

Supporters of the singer noted that performing in a language that is not one’s own, particularly on a platform as massive as the Olympics, is inherently challenging, especially for artists primarily known for English-language material. They also pointed out that Carey has sung in multiple languages across her career and is respected for vocal impact and international appeal.