Mariah Carey relishes the fact that she has become culturally synonymous with Christmas — thanks in part to the longevity of her iconic song “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” and its ubiquity every year when the holidays roll around.

But the Grammy winner admits she initially wasn’t sure about doing a Christmas record when her label pitched it. “I was a little bit apprehensive,” she recalls, reflecting on her album “Merry Christmas” turning 30 this month.

Carey will make an appearance at Sunday’s American Music Awards, and her Christmas tour kicks off in November.

This interview with Carey has been edited for clarity and length.

Q: What has it been like to celebrate nearly 20 years of “The Emancipation of Mimi” and reflect on this album’s legacy?

A: I think “The Emancipation of Mimi” is one of my albums where there were different boundaries that got pushed aside, and I was really happy about that because I needed to come back, apparently. And so, it was a comeback. But it’s one of my favorite albums. And celebrating it this year and this celebration of “Mimi” was really fun because I never get to do those songs. I never do them. And this time I did.

Q: Because of that kind of underdog feeling, you felt some artistic liberty and empowerment that maybe you hadn’t before?

A: Yeah, I feel like people were ready to reembrace me. And, you know, how did I feel about that? I mean, I feel like the album “Charmbracelet” was a very good album too, but not everybody knew that album. So, you know, when “We Belong Together” came out after “It’s Like That,” which didn’t do as well but still did pretty well. Whatever.

Q: Your first Christmas album, “Merry Christmas,” is turning 30. That was a formative record for you and your career. Do you remember anything about its inception?

A: So that was the record company saying “You should do a Christmas album.” And I was like, “I don’t know that I should at this juncture.” Because, you know, I was very young and was just starting out, and I felt like people do Christmas albums later in their lives. But now people have started to do them whenever, like right at the top of their career. So, I mean, what was I feeling like? I was a little bit apprehensive, and then I was like, “I love this.” And I decorated the studio and just had the best time.

Q: Have you seen Ari Aster’s “Beau Is Afraid” with Joaquin Phoenix?

A: Yes. I had to approve that. I thought it was interesting the way they used my song “Always Be My Baby.” That was interesting. I mean, it didn’t really match with the movie, but, you know, I was just being edgy by saying “You know, OK, fine.” It was very different. I wasn’t reluctant, but I thought “This is something way different than I’ve done ever.”

Oct. 5 birthdays: Singer Arlene Smith is 83. Singer Steve Miller is 81. Actor Karen Allen is 73. Director Clive Barker is 72. Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson is 66. Actor Guy Pearce is 57. Actor Parminder Nagra is 49. Actor Kate Winslet is 49. Actor Jesse Eisenberg is 41. Singer Brooke Valentine is 40.