Mariah Carey Dominates Christmas Every Year, but Should She Be Dethroned This Holiday Season?

Mariah Carey Dominates Christmas Every Year, but Should She Be Dethroned This Holiday Season? Image via Apple TV+ / Courtesy Everett Collection By  Dyah Ayu Larasati Published 51 minutes ago Dyah (pronounced Dee-yah) is a Senior Author at Collider, responsible for both writing and transcription duties. She joined the website in 2022 as a Resource Writer before stepping into her current role in April 2023. As a Senior Author, she writes Features and Lists covering TV, music, and movies, making her a true Jill of all trades. In addition to her writing, Dyah also serves as an interview transcriber, primarily for events such as San Diego Comic-Con, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Sundance Film Festival. Dyah graduated from Satya Wacana Christian University in October 2019 with a Bachelor's degree in English Literature, concentrating on Creative Writing. She is currently completing her Master's degree in English Literature Studies, with a thesis on intersectionality in postcolonial-feminist studies in Asian literary works, and is expected to graduate in 2026. Born and raised between Indonesia and Singapore, Dyah is no stranger to different cultures. She now resides in the small town of Kendal with her husband and four cats, where she spends her free time cooking or cycling. Sign in to your Collider account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

Mariah Carey has returned once again for another round of holiday cheer, arriving earlier than expected with her timeless hit, "All I Want for Christmas Is You." After 30 years of chart-topping dominance, the song remains a festive staple (and an unofficial retail anthem). Thanks to fresher renditions (including Justin Bieber's) and an appearance in the romantic comedy Love Actually, the song continues to find new life on its own. But as the season rolls in, some wonder if it's time for a change. In 2024, Jason Kelce jokingly claimed he had taken her Christmas crown with his duet of "Maybe This Christmas" featuring Stevie Nicks. While his comment isn't meant to be taken seriously, it does raise another point: perhaps listeners should start exploring new contenders for the holiday music throne.

Mariah Carey May Rule Christmas, but the Holiday Charts Have More to Offer

Contrary to popular belief, Carey never set out to become the Queen of Christmas in the first place. Her debut holiday album, Merry Christmas, was originally her record company’s idea. At the time, Carey hesitated. At just 24, she was right in the early beginnings of her long career. All things considered, a Christmas album seemed premature for an artist still finding her place in the industry. Holiday records were typically reserved for later years in a singer’s career. Carey eventually took on the project, which led to the conception of the very song that made her a Christmas icon, “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

The origin of “All I Want for Christmas is You” is a bit fuzzy. Carey has said she wrote it “basically as a kid on my little Casio keyboard,” while co-writer Walter Afanasieff recalls the pair creating it in a rented house, beginning with his “boogie-woogie” riff. Conflicting memories aside, one thing remains clear: Carey’s chart domination is a coincidence. She originally didn’t have the intention of making a Christmas album, let alone one with an enduring hit that’s lasted more than 30 years. Though it may be difficult to dethrone Carey — based on just how legendary the singer is alone and the timelessness of the song itself — it’s also worth mentioning that there are other Christmas albums worth checking out as well. As the numbers go, the Billboard Holiday Albums chart shows she isn’t the only caroler reigning supreme this season.

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Posts By  Gabrielle Ulubay Nov 24, 2025

It’s Time to Embrace a Modern-Day Christmas With Sabrina Carpenter and Pentatonix

While Christmastime calls for some nostalgic reminiscing, the season also invites this generation's pop-influenced additions — and reigning on the holiday charts is Sabrina Carpenter. The pop girlie is having the time of her life with her 2024 Short n’ Sweet era and her latest album, Man’s Best Friend. But back in 2023, Carpenter dropped a holiday EP titled Fruitcake. It’s as delicious as the dessert, opening with a Christmas remix of her viral hit “Nonsense,” complete with her trademark cheeky outro (“Look at all those presents, that’s a big sack / Boy, that package is too big to gift wrap.”)

Meanwhile, movies like the Pitch Perfect franchise helped make a cappella cool, but the group Pentatonix brought it to Grammy-winning acclaim with their detailed five-part arrangements and intricate harmonies. Since 2014, they’ve released multiple holiday albums, yet their 2019 compilation The Best of Pentatonix Christmas is considered a top-charting seasonal record — nicely alongside Carey’s Christmas album in the Top 10. From their cover of Leonard Cohen’s somber “Hallelujah,” to their rendition of the Sister Act 2-popularized “Joyful, Joyful,” one thing listeners can expect from Pentatonix’s range is variety.

Animated Movie Soundtracks Are Also Taking Over the Holiday Charts

Animated movie soundtracks are currently dominating the holiday charts alongside Carey. For those who like something out of the box, The Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack is both festive and frightening. Composed by former Oingo Boingo frontman Danny Elfman, its eerie yet enchanting sound teleports listeners to Jack Skellington’s world, as he brings the spirit of Christmas ot Halloween Town.

It wouldn’t be Christmas without remembering one of America’s most beloved holiday soundtracks from A Charlie Brown Christmas. When the special aired on CBS on December 9, 1965, it drew over 15 million viewers that night — making it one of the most memorable Christmas phenomena in America. A gentle tale about rejecting holiday commercialism, its jazz-infused soundtrack by the Vince Guaraldi Trio shows that even a simple, humble animation could feel warm, elegant, and emotionally rich. It may be hard to dethrone a queen like Carey, but at the end of the day, there's no competition in Christmas.

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