The “All I Want for Christmas Is You” singer recently revealed some tracks off of her holiday playlist to PEOPLE, and believe it or not, the cartoon critters make an appearance.

“I love ‘The Chipmunk Song.’ It’s all about whatever’s festive. It really is,” Carey says, referring to Alvin, Simon and Theodore’s classic, “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late).”

Many of Carey’s Christmas songs have become standards for her fans worldwide, and she admitted that while she indulges in the occasional kid-geared carol, she’s more likely to turn to classic crooners like Luther Vandross and Nat King Cole.

“My favorite song from his repertoire is ‘The Christmas Song.’ And so that is up there with like top, top, top songs of all time,” she says of Cole.

The song makes her feel “melancholy” — but she welcomes the feeling because it evokes Christmases past. “It’s still just soaking that up because I love it so much. I love Christmas and that time of year and listening to these songs that I’ve grown up listening to,” Carey says.

Carey loves Christmas, and in 2023, she has unofficially claimed the title of Queen of Christmas for herself and her fans. This season, she appeared on PEOPLE’s digital cover and extended her annual Christmas show into the “Merry Christmas One and All!” tour.

Her kids, Moroccan and Monroe (whom she shares with ex-husband Nick Cannon) performed with her onstage throughout the tour. “As they grow up and decide what to do with their lives, it’s really nice for me to be able to see them performing onstage,” she tells PEOPLE.

Mariah Carey performs “Oh Santa” from her 25th Anniversary album reissue of Merry Christmas during ‘The Late Late Show with James Corden’.

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She even had a full-circle moment when a Mariah Carey Barbie was released at the end of her show at the Hollywood Bowl in mid-November. The dress the doll wears is inspired by her outfit in the second “All I Want for Christmas Is You” video, directed by Joseph Kahn.

“I had some notes, yeah,” the 54-year-old said of the doll made in her likeness. “The hair, other things. But when I saw my doll, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is so cute.’ “