Mariah Carey is set to perform at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics

In a video message to announce the news, Mariah said: "Ciao. Get ready for Milano Cortina 2026. See you at the Stadium San Siro on the 6th of February for the Olympic opening ceremony. See you in Milan!"

The local organising committee has also announced Mariah's appearance at the opening ceremomy.

The committee said: "Mariah Carey fully represents the emotional atmosphere that accompanies the run-up to the Games.

"Music is a universal language that attracts different stories and sensibilities, and intertwines with the opening ceremony's theme of harmony."

Mariah has enjoyed a hugely successful in the music industry, becoming one of the best-selling artists of all time - but the pop star previously admitted that she doesn't know the public's perception of her.

She told Variety: "If people have a good sense of humour, they'll just be like, Oh, we kind of get her. She's campy, she's this, she's that, she's not always serious. I don't know what people think of me.

"I had this conversation with Ellen [DeGeneres] and I was like, 'I don't know what the biggest misconception about me is because I don't know what people think.' I don't know."

Mariah also suggested that she has a public persona that's distinct from her real-life self.

The 56-year-old singer said: "I really play it up with the diamonds and the hair and the makeup and the this-and-the-that and the shoes and the whole ensemble, but honestly, is that me? I don't really know. Yeah, part of it is me. I mean, would I be mad if someone gave me a new diamond bracelet? No. But that doesn't mean that's all I care about."