Christmas in the Balkans, Mariah Carey-Style

On an icy winter's night in Kosovo, pop superstar Mariah Careybrought the house downwhen she told 700 wildly cheering American soldiers: "Everyone back homes loves you."

It was pureschmaltzbut they loved it -- a chance for a Christmas singalong in Camp Bondsteel with one of the world's most famous popdivas.

Patriotism reigned supreme. The New York singer wore a red dress, a white dress and a blue dress for her quick-change concert for the troops. Wavingthe Stars and Stripes, she had the soldiersbellowingwith pride.

She even had them up on stage to decorate the Christmas tree.

The United States has 6,000 peacekeeping troops in Kosovo. By the end of her tour around three American camps on Tuesday, the military reckoned she had met half of them. "The rest are out on patrol," a U.S. Army spokesman said.

Carey, whose hometown was forever scarred by the September 11 attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center, is not one of those stars whose fear of flying has kept them at home ever since President Bush launched his war on terrorism.

"We want to give these people a little glamour," she told Reuters on the tour.

And you cannot do that staying at home.

"Traveling and being around my different fans around the world is what keeps me going," she said. "I have a different philosophy to a lot of people."

She was in and out of a Chinook helicopter all day. Every time, the reception wastumultuous. For the soldiers, all their Christmases had come at once.

Suddenly at one camp, a soldier shouted out "Go on -- give me a hug." Carey dulyobliged.

Carey, reflecting on an emotional day out with the troops, said: "It was an honor and a privilege to give something back."

Asked if one day she might evercontemplateentertaining American troops in Afghanistan, she said: "Yes."