On Friday, as the world tuned in to the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in Milan and Cortina, pop icon Mariah Carey took center stage with a highly discussed musical performance, and CSI Professor Giancarlo Lombardi was asked to weigh in on NBC.

During the globally watched ceremony, Carey performed a medley that included the Italian classic “Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu (Volare).” Her choice to sing in Italian, a nod to the host nation, became a major talking point across social media and news outlets.

Watch the full segment here:

Professor Lombardi joined NBC to break down the cultural and artistic layers of Carey’s performance, offering context on why the selection of “Volare” — an Italian standard beloved around the world — resonated with audiences, and how Carey handled the Italian lyrics.