Everyone is familiar with Mariah Carey's No. 1 hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You”—but did you know there's a surprising controversy behind the song?

As it turns out, the modern Christmas classic has long been the subject of copyright disputes, but Carey insists she wrote and produced the song by herself.

In this special holiday episode of I Never Knew That, editor Catherine explains the track's origin and delves into the little-known debate surrounding its authorship.

If you enjoyed this video, please let us know at editor@biography.com. Be sure to check out our other episodes, including last week's installment about Rosa Parks' life after the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Headshot of Catherine Caruso
Catherine Caruso
Associate Profiles Editor

Catherine Caruso joined the Biography.com staff in August 2024, having previously worked as a freelance journalist for several years. She is a graduate of Syracuse University, where she studied English literature. When she’s not working on a new story, you can find her reading, hitting the gym, or watching too much TV.