Billie Eichner was honored enough just be be an elf in Apple TV’s Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special alongside Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson, Snoop Dogg, Jermaine Dupri and narrator Tiffany Haddish. But when MC shouted out his stunning performance of her song “Miss You Most (At Christmas Time)” from the Dec. 8 episode of Late Late Show, well, that just cemented their BFF status.
“Yes my eyes are misty because I can’t even believe @billyeichner brought this song back and did the first ever TV performance of it! Bravo!! Beautiful love you Billy,” Carey tweeted Dec. 9 about the comedian/actor’s TV debut singing the original song from Carey’s 1994 Merry Christmas holiday album.
Eichner couldn’t deal, and Mariah’s tears brought on some of their own. “MC! Now I am too,” he responded. “Thank you. I love you. Thanks for giving me your blessing to do it! Merry Xmas.” And then … Carey got all misty all over again, writing back, “Wiping tears. Absolutely love this. You’re the best.”
The superstar wasn’t the only one loving it, as Mindy Kaling was so blown away she could only summon an all-caps, “WOW,” while Glee alum Alex Newell doubled-down on Eichner endearment. “Wait… as if my secret crush on Billy wasn’t already at a high now that I know he can sing,” Newell tweeted.
What had them all kvelling was Eichner sitting on a stool in James Corden’s studio amid a forest of glowing red Christmas trees, crooning the ballad in his best Broadway showstopper voice — no joke.
Earlier in the show, Eichner discussed how nervous he was to be an “official” musical guest on a late-night show for the first time, and how his career in comedy somehow brought him to the point where he’s like the “gay Seth MacFarlane trying to sing.” As for how he ended up on the Mariah Christmas special, Billy said how could he say no?
“I’ve reached peak gay, peak Christmas, peak all of it … but it was such a blast, especially this year when things have been so grim to get to be in this fantasy Mariah winter wonderland for a few days,” Eichner told Corden, saying that even with the rigorous COVID-19 protocols on set, it was the most fun he’s had all year. “Granted, a low bar, but it really was pure Mariah Christmas joy every second.”
Watch Eichner’s performance and interview below, and see Carey’s tweet and the reactions.
