Mariah Carey’s Olympic Performance Sparks Lip-Sync Debate, Teleprompter Buzz/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Pop superstar Mariah Carey delivered a standout performance at the Milan Cortina Olympics opening ceremony. Her Italian-language rendition of “Volare” impressed many — but also sparked online debate. Questions centered on a visible teleprompter and whether parts of the performance were lip-synced.
Mariah Carey Olympics Performance: Quick Looks
- Carey sang the Italian classic “Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu” (“Volare”)
- Performance took place at San Siro Stadium
- Online critics questioned lip-syncing and teleprompter use
- Organizers confirmed prerecorded audio is standard for global broadcasts
- Italian artists also featured prominently during the ceremony
Deep Look: Mariah Carey’s Olympic Performance Sparks Lip-Sync Debate and Teleprompter Buzz
MILAN — The opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics delivered spectacle, symbolism — and a surprise flashpoint of online debate following a high-profile performance by Mariah Carey.
Carey’s rendition of the Italian standard “Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu,” better known worldwide as “Volare,” was among the most talked-about moments of the 3½-hour ceremony. The American pop icon sang in Italian, drawing cheers inside San Siro Stadium and widespread attention on social media.
Many viewers praised her vocal control and signature high notes. Others, however, questioned why a non-Italian artist was chosen for such a culturally iconic song — and whether the performance was fully live.
Teleprompter and Lip-Sync Questions
Social media users quickly zeroed in on a large teleprompter visible inside the stadium, displaying phonetic spellings of Italian lyrics such as “Voh-lah-reh” for “Volare.” Clips of the scrolling prompts went viral, including one shared by Italian Olympic gold medalist Gianmarco Tamberi.
Speculation also emerged over whether Carey was lip-syncing. Three reporters, including The Associated Press, raised those questions during a daily briefing with Olympic organizers and the International Olympic Committee.
Maria Laura Iascone, Milan Cortina’s director of ceremonies, declined to say directly whether Carey sang live.
Why Mariah Carey?
Carey, born in New York to an Irish American opera-singer mother and a Black father of Venezuelan heritagehas no Italian background. Still, organizers promoted her for months as a marquee performer capable of delivering a globally resonant moment.
Carey later told Vogue that “Volare” has long been one of her favorite songs, though it remains unclear whether she personally selected it for the ceremony.
Italian Voices Still Took Center Stage
Despite online criticism, the opening ceremony prominently featured Italian talent. Tenor Andrea Bocelli delivered a dramatic performance of Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma,” while pop icon Laura Pausini and acclaimed mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli also appeared.
Organizers defended the teleprompter as standard practice for performers singing in non-native languages.
A Performance That Did Its Job
While the debate continues online, inside San Siro the reaction was clear: loud applause, cheers, and a visible surge of excitement once the crowd realized Carey was singing in Italian.
Whether live or prerecorded, organizers say the moment succeeded in its goal — creating a globally recognizable highlight to launch a uniquely structured Olympic Games.
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