Top 5 Christmas Songs of 2025

The holiday season of 2025 brought many new festive songs, but also proved that classics don’t die out. What makes these festive songs so timeless? Will they ever die out?  The top five Christmas songs of 2025 are a diverse set of tunes, with popular modern hits and older traditional songs that bring a sense of nostalgia. Let's explore the defining sounds of the 2025 holiday season: 

    5. Ariana Grande - Santa Tell Me

Cherished by fans, this is the newest song on this list, released in 2014 by Ariana Grande. It became the first holiday song released in the 21st century to reach the top five in the United States when it peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2024. The song is playful, but not usually considered the most festive, it utilizes a very common theme of love that can be found in other popular Ariana Grande songs.  

    4. Bobby Helms - Jingle Bell Rock

Jingle Bell Rock has reappeared on the Billboard Hot 100 since 2019, but it has been charting since it came out in 1957. It blends a style of country and rock, with Bobby Helms being well known as a country artist. It is truly an iconic classic that passes the test of time. 

    3. Brenda Lee - ‘Rockin Around the Christmas Tree 

Released in 1958, this song is a quintessential nostalgic classic, showing that even after decades it remains popular. One of the speculated reasons for its popularity is that it is one of the first holiday songs to embrace rock and roll. It gained listeners after it was used in Home Alone, and a number of other holiday movies. It has been in the top 5 since 2018. 

    2. Wham! - Last Christmas

Last Christmas is a modern classic and one of the most immediately recognizable Christmas songs. It came out in 1984. It embraces a modern synth pop style, which led me to believe it was more modern than it actually is. Like many pop songs and unlike many Christmas songs, it is about heartbreak and betrayal. It is more melancholic than happy and festive, but it still remains an anthem of the season. 

    1. Mariah Carey - All I Want for Christmas is You

To the surprise of no one whatsoever, the top spot goes to the one and only, All I Want for Christmas is You. Ever since this song was released in 1994 it has gained more and more popularity. Since 2019 it has held the longest running #1 spot in Billboard Hot 100. Although the song has always been a staple, its massive popularity is actually a recent phenomenon. This song broke records for taking such a long time, a whopping 25 years, to hit #1 on the Billboard. Its popularity will certainly last for decades to come. 

Overall, Holiday songs are actually increasing in popularity, especially since the start of Christmas is getting pushed further and further back into the month of November. These familiar favorites provide comfort, an emotional anchor when life feels unsteady. This list is diverse in style, and age, with 20th century classics and 21st century innovations. Christmas music is unique in its ability to bridge generational and stylistic divides, and a varied playlist shows the wide variety of genres and artists who have contributed to the season over time.