The final Billboard Hot 100 for 2025 comes exactly as anticipated, and like clockwork, doused in tinsel and a sense of nostalgic and traditional holiday experience. Holiday music continues its domination of the Billboard Hot 100 in a one-sided affair, with the upper half of this week’s list a holiday playlist in and of itself, with a few acts managing to defy the season with hits. This week is less about competition and more about ritual.
Up at number one, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” continues its record-breaking reign. With now 78 weeks on the chart in total, and another year of holidays cemented in the number one spot, it’s clear this song is less of a traditional single and more of an event. Streaming is huge, support on the radio is consistent, and public appetite shows no signs of abating. Few songs in pop history have demonstrated such return power.
Right behind the leader is the second place entry of Bobby Helms with “Jingle Bell Rock,” which makes an impressive entry with its biggest streaming week ever. It’s only logical that this song is not new even if it was made in the 1950s since Christmas playlists are in season. At third place is the consistent Brenda Lee with “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” whose late career resurgence has made her one of the most streamed artists in the month of December.
Wham!’s “Last Christmas” keeps at number four, remaining one of the most international hits in Christmas music history. Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me” comes in at fifth, demonstrating impressive endurance with its own place in Christmas history now cemented as its own tradition. These five examples represent how Christmas music today encompasses not only multiple artists from multiple eras, but also multiple “eras” of artists.
Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song” rises to position six, one of its highest placements in its entirety. Kelly Clarkson’s “Underneath The Tree” occupies the seventh position with its gains in airplay reception and popular holiday playlists. Dean Martin’s “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” bursts inside the top ten in eighth place, with Andy Williams’ “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year” at nine.
The track that disrupts the holiday line-up is “The Fate Of Ophelia,” which is by Taylor Swift and ranks at number ten overall. Though it drops a slight position from the previous week’s chart, seeing it amongst the top ten during the peak holiday period is quite impressive, especially when it’s up against chart giants that come out during the holiday season.
Just out of the top ten, “Golden” by HUNTR/X, EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI slips to number eleven, having previously topped the chart at number one. While holiday rivalry is no doubt hindering its progress, the fact that it has charted for so long, not to mention its success earlier in the year, ensures it is an important single of 2025 so far.
In slots twelve through twenty, holiday hits continue their reading legions. “Sleigh Ride,” by The Ronettes; “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas,” by Michael Buble; “Feliz Navidad,” by José Feliciano; “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” by Burl Ives; and “Run Rudolph Run,” by Chuck Berry all increase significantly. Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas,” a recording from well over seventy years ago, continues its remarkable run at position twenty.
The biggest debut of the week comes from Pooh Shiesty with “FDO,” debuting at number twenty-two. It marks the strongest non-holiday debut on the chart and shows that there is a clear interest in Pooh Shiesty’s material once again. Although holiday momentum prevents much movement this week, the debut ranking shows potential for future growth when January rolls around.
Farther down the list, more traditional holiday songs make their way up the chart. These include Eartha Kitt’s “Santa Baby,” Elvis Presley’s “Blue Christmas,” Gene Autry’s “Here Comes Santa Claus,” and the Jonas Brothers’ “Like It’s Christmas.” Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime” and the Eagles’ “Please Come Home For Christmas” are those songs that consistently do well each year, demonstrating that holiday music is timeless.
The middle section of the chart also marks a number of other non-seasonal tracks that continue to chart well during the height of the holiday season. Olivia Dean’s tracks “Man I Need” and “So Easy (To Fall In Love)” continue to do well. Chris Brown and Bryson Tiller’s “It Depends” extends its already lengthy chart residency, as does Tate McRae’s “Tit For Tat.”
However, new entrants abound in the lower half, primarily fueled by hip-hop releases. 21 Savage has a strong showing with a number of new entries, such as “HA,” “Where You From,” “Stepbrothers,” and “Dog $hit.” Although their rankings are not much impacted due to the congestion corresponding to the season, the number of new entrants points to active fandom and could mean a boost after the holidays.
Also arriving on the chart are other new tracks such as KATO’s “Turn The Lights Off,” Tyla’s “Chanel,” and EsDeeKid’s “4 Raws” at a time of the year that is arguably the most competitive on the chart each year. To make an entry during the week of Christmas is notoriously tough, and all appearances on the chart should be celebrated.
Near the bottom of the chart is the return of Morgan Wallen and Post Malone’s “I Ain’t Coming Back” at position one hundred – a subtle nod to their success. Typically, seasonal tracks cause spikes to temporarily move elsewhere for a time. As we enter the final days of 2025, this week’s Hot 100 is not about competition but about tradition.
Traditional hits take back center stage, new singles preview what’s to come in the new year, and some blockbusters make it through the tidal wave of new music that comes with the holidays. But come next week, as Christmas ends and a new month of January begins, things will move quickly. For now, however, the music of Christmas reigns supreme.