Mariah-Carey’s annual holiday takeover has officially reached historic status. Her enduring seasonal hit, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” has broken the record for the longest run at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, logging a landmark 20 weeks at the chart’s peak.
The song reclaimed the top spot last week as holiday listening surged nationwide, then promptly pushed past the previous record of 19 weeks. That benchmark had been jointly held by Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, and Shaboozey’s crossover smash “A Bar Song (Tipsy).” With this latest achievement, Carey now stands alone atop one of Billboard’s most competitive all-time rankings.
A Seasonal Song With Staying Power
Originally released in 1994, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” has evolved from festive favorite into an annual chart juggernaut. Its latest No. 1 showing also marks the track’s 77th week on the Hot 100 overall, tying Dua Lipa’s “Levitating” for the longest chart run ever achieved by a female artist.
The song’s yearly resurgence has become so reliable that Billboard watchers now treat its December return as a seasonal constant, much like twinkle lights or last-minute gift panic. Each winter, the track reenters the chart conversation, often displacing newer releases with ease.
Carey’s Second Chart-Defining Moment
This isn’t Carey’s first time reshaping Hot 100 history. In 1995, her collaboration with Boyz II Men, “One Sweet Day,” spent 16 weeks at No. 1 — a record that stood unchallenged for 23 years. That earlier reign helped define the modern era of chart longevity and cemented Carey’s reputation as a singles powerhouse.
Taken together, the milestones underscore her rare ability to dominate across decades, formats, and listening habits. Few artists have managed to command both contemporary radio and long-term cultural memory in the same way.
Holiday Music Rules the Top 10
Carey’s chart win arrives amid a broader seasonal sweep. Eight of the top 10 songs on the Hot 100 this week are holiday titles, turning the upper tier of the chart into a festive playlist.
Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” holds steady at No. 2, followed by Wham!’s “Last Christmas,” Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock,” and Ariana Grande’s modern favorite “Santa Tell Me.” The only non-holiday tracks breaking through are Huntrx’s “Golden” at No. 6 and Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” at No. 7.
Albums Tell a Similar Story
The seasonal surge extends beyond singles. Taylor Swift’s latest release, The Life of a Showgirl, secures its ninth week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, managing to hold off a wave of Christmas classics flooding the chart.
Five holiday albums occupy spots in the top 10, including Michael Bublé’s Christmas at No. 4, Bing Crosby’s Ultimate Christmas at No. 5, and Nat King Cole’s The Christmas Song at No. 6. Vince Guaraldi Trio’s A Charlie Brown Christmas lands at No. 8, with Phil Spector’s famed compilation close behind at No. 9.
As December listening habits continue to lean nostalgic, Carey’s latest record confirms what fans already know: when the holidays arrive, Mariah still runs the charts.
