Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ Extends Record for Most Weeks at No. 1 on Singles Chart

Mariah Carey's iconic seasonal anthem, "All I Want for Christmas Is You," has extended its historic reign, notching a 22nd week atop the Billboard Hot 100. This achievement solidifies its position as the chart's all-time leader for most weeks at number one, a record it already held. The song now stands three weeks clear of the previous benchmark of 19 weeks, jointly held by Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" (featuring Billy Ray Cyrus) and Shaboozey's "A Bar Song (Tipsy)." This sustained dominance is a testament to the track's unique cultural footprint, which reliably triggers a massive streaming event each holiday season.

The song's impact is multifaceted, setting records beyond the main chart. It has now spent 26 weeks at number one on the Streaming Songs chart, another all-time high, while also climbing to number three on the Digital Song Sales ranking. This cross-platform success translates into substantial annual royalties for Carey, estimated between $2.5 and $3 million, driven almost entirely by its concentrated yearly resurgence. The seasonal shift is nearly absolute on the Hot 100, where classic holiday tunes occupy every position from one through 24 this week, demonstrating the powerful, predictable nostalgia cycle that defines December listening.

A lineup of enduring holiday hits follows Carey's record-breaker. Brenda Lee's 1958 classic "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" holds at number two, with Bobby Helms' "Jingle Bell Rock," Wham!'s "Last Christmas," and Ariana Grande's "Santa Tell Me" close behind. Notably, Wham!'s 1984 single "Last Christmas" continues its own global domination, securing the top spot on both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts for a second consecutive week. This underscores its status as a perennial favorite that transcends generations and borders, a rare feat for a song released nearly 40 years ago. Music historian Dr. Evelyn Shaw notes, "The simultaneous chart supremacy of Carey's and Wham!'s songs highlights two distinct but powerful holiday music models: one built on maximalist pop production and the other on melancholic synth-pop, both connecting with listeners on a profound seasonal level."

On the Billboard 200 albums chart, Taylor Swift's "The Tortured Poets Department" secures an 11th non-consecutive week at number one. However, the holiday spirit dominates the rest of the top ten, with seven Christmas-themed albums joining her. Bing Crosby's "Ultimate Christmas" reaches a new peak at number two, followed by Michael Bublé's multi-platinum "Christmas," Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song," and the influential 1963 Phil Spector compilation "A Christmas Gift for You From Phil Spector." This annual catalog surge is a significant revenue driver for the music industry; holiday albums can account for over 50% of an established artist's annual catalog streams in the final quarter, providing a reliable financial anchor for legacy acts and estates.

The lower half of the top ten showcases a mix of seasonal and contemporary titles. Morgan Wallen's single "I'm the Problem" remains at number six, immediately followed by a cluster of festive albums: the Vince Guaraldi Trio's jazz soundtrack "A Charlie Brown Christmas," Mariah Carey's own multi-platinum "Merry Christmas," and Frank Sinatra's "Ultimate Christmas." The sole non-holiday entry in this segment is the "KPop Demon Hunters" soundtrack at number ten, emphasizing the comprehensive takeover by Christmas music. This chart landscape reflects a clear bifurcation in listener behavior during the period, with audiences either fully embracing seasonal tradition or sticking firmly to their usual genres, with little middle ground.