NBC knows Mariah Carey can be difficult to work with so the network scheduled her to pre-record her performance of "All I Want for Christmas Is You" for the "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" special. The tape segment would then air during the Wednesday night show.
True to her ways, Carey failed to show up for the Tuesday evening taping, even though she was at The Palace Hotel, about a 10-minute ride away, according to the NY Daily News. She left a crowd waiting for three hours in the freezing rain at Rockefeller Center.
"The diva was supposed to pre-tape her performance of Christmas songs like she's done before. The show is live Wednesday, but producers have learned their lessons with her over the years and that they must pre-tape her. She always shows up late," an NBC insider told the Daily News. "On Tuesday night, she didn't show up at all."
NBC has heavily promoted Carey's performance in its promos for the holiday special. She's "usually a big draw for it as well," according to the source.
Carey's camp kept telling NBC producers she was 10 minutes away, but she was never technically en route to the performance. Producers finally called off the taping and sent fans home without an explanation.
The #Beautiful singer did tweet out an apology on Wednesday afternoon.
"Last night's situation was beyond my control. I apologize to all that showed up, you know that I would never want to disappoint you," Carey wrote. "You've kept me here, in your hearts, and I keep you in mine always. We are #lambily! #ThereForMe."
She also confirmed her live performance for the Christmas special.
"I will be opening tonight's live show in Rockefeller center with 'All I Want For Christmas Is You'!!!!" she tweeted.
"Christmas in Rockefeller Center" airs tonight at 8 p.m. on NBC.
