Pop superstar Mariah Carey emerged victorious in a high-profile copyright dispute over her iconic holiday song "All I Want for Christmas Is You." A Los Angeles court dismissed the $20 million lawsuit filed by songwriters Andy Stone and Troy Powers, who claimed Carey's 1994 hit copied their 1989 country song of the same name.
Judge Monica Almadani ruled there was insufficient evidence to support allegations that Carey's version infringed on Stone and Powers' copyright. The court's decision came after expert analysis by musicologist Dr. Lawrence Ferrara, who determined the songs were distinctly different in melody, harmony, rhythm, and lyrics.
The plaintiffs had argued that Carey's recording borrowed the "compositional structure" of their ballad and sought substantial damages along with a jury trial. Their legal filing asserted that the defendants should have known they needed a license or songwriting credit to use the title, citing standard music industry practices.
This marks the second time Stone and Powers have pursued legal action over the holiday favorite. They previously filed a similar $20 million lawsuit in Louisiana in June 2022, which they voluntarily withdrew in November of that year.
Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" has become one of the most successful holiday songs ever recorded, consistently returning to the charts each festive season since its release nearly 30 years ago. The dismissal of this lawsuit allows the Grammy-winning artist to continue enjoying the fruits of her seasonal success without further legal challenges from these plaintiffs.
Legendary singer Darlene Love, 83, is setting the record straight about her relationship with Mariah Carey in the realm of holiday music, dismissing any notion of rivalry between the two artists. In a recent interview with PEOPLE, Love explained that most of the perceived tension over the "Queen of Christmas" title was primarily driven by fans rather than the artists themselves. "I ain't never thought about being the Queen of Christmas. I think everybody is a Queen of Christmas," Love stated. The discussion gained attention in 2022 when Carey attempted to trademark the "Queen of Christmas" title, prompting Love to question the move on Facebook. However, the situation took a positive turn when Carey publicly acknowledged Love's influence, expressing how she grew up listening to Love's classic "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)." Love warmly received Carey's recognition, leading to a mutual appreciation between the two artists. "When all of that was going on with Mariah Carey, she wrote, 'As far as I'm concerned, Darlene Love is the Christmas Queen,'" Love revealed. Now, Love hints at exciting possibilities ahead, including a potential collaboration with Carey. Following her recent successful duet with Cher, Love playfully suggested, "Well, I guess Mariah Carey is coming next." She remains optimistic about future opportunities, adding that "good things can come around — any day, any time now." The veteran singer's openness to collaboration and her dismissal of any competition demonstrates how holiday music can bring artists together rather than divide them, suggesting there's room for multiple queens in the Christmas music kingdom.