Mariah Carey was in Toronto Thursday to unveil the Husdon’s Bay/Saks Fifth Avenue annual holiday window display, but the singer will be full of Christmas cheer if reports are true she’s making close to $1 million for a quick performance at the event.
Celebrity news site TMZ reports Carey’s two-song performance at the Yonge and Queen Street Hudson’s Bay location — including one of the most listened-to holiday songs of all time; All I Want For Christmas Is You — will earn her a big pay day.
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A spokeswoman for Rock-It promotions, which is helping to organize the event, said she could not comment on the report and reps for Hudson’s Bay/Saks did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
If true, Carey’s price tag seems to have jumped in recent years. The New York Daily News reports she had received $300,000 for an hour-long appearance in the Big Apple in 2014.
Reports of the big payment didn’t deter fans from flocking to Queen Street Thursday night to hear her sing.
Iqra Riaz, 30, flew from London, England to Toronto just for the two-song set.
“I’ve been obsessed with Mariah Carey ever since I was a child,” said Riaz, who spent 950 pounds (nearly $1,600 CAD) for her flight to see the singer perform.
“Just seeing her will get me into the holiday spirit but hearing her sing will be amazing.”
After Carey left the stage, Riaz looked shell shocked in the front row.
Was the flight and cost worth it?
“Yes, but I wish she stayed on stage longer.”
The pop star was also announced as the first act for next month’s VH1 Divas Holiday: Unsilent Night on Dec. 2 at the Kings Theatre in New York. The TV special will air on VH1 on Dec. 5.
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Additional performers will be announced at a later time but the event will mark the third time Carey has performed at a VH1 Divas event, which is returning after a four-year break.
Carey said in a statement Thursday she’s “thrilled” to perform for her fans and called the holiday season her “favourite and most festive time of year,” which isn’t surprising if she’s making that much money for the Toronto performance alone.
The event is also scheduled to shut down part of Queen Street and the TTC is diverting the 501 streetcar between Yonge and Bay Streets.
With files from The Associated Press and Dawn Cuthbertson.