Christmas Songs by Ariana Grande & Kelly Clarkson Enter Top 10
Two contemporary holiday classics have made significant strides by entering the Billboard Hot 100’s top 10 for the first time. Ariana Grande’s catchy tune “Santa Tell Me,” which debuted in 2014, has climbed from 14 to 9, while Kelly Clarkson’s heartfelt “Underneath the Tree,” released in 2013, has jumped from 15 to 10. Both of these festive tracks had previously peaked at No. 11 during the last holiday season, showcasing their enduring popularity and appeal in the ever-evolving music landscape. Their rise reflects a growing trend of modern holiday songs capturing listeners’ hearts and streaming numbers during the festive season.
According to the latest data from tracker Luminate, “Santa Tell Me” amassed an impressive 27.7 million official streams, marking a 17% increase from the previous week. Additionally, it reached an audience of 8.9 million in radio airplay, a 3% rise, while 1,000 copies were sold, representing a 12% growth. In comparison, “Underneath the Tree” garnered 28.4 million streams, reflecting a 19% increase, 9.2 million in radio reach (up 16%), and 2,000 units sold, albeit down 1%. These statistics highlight the competitive nature of holiday music and the strong listener engagement both songs generate during the festive season.
Despite “Underneath the Tree” achieving higher absolute streaming numbers, “Santa Tell Me” maintains a stronger position on both the Hot 100 and the Streaming Songs chart. This ranking is influenced by the weighted system applied to all titles, which considers paid/subscription streams, ad-supported on-demand streams, and radio programming. This method ensures that the popularity of songs is accurately reflected, demonstrating how listener habits and platform algorithms can shape chart performances in the competitive holiday music market.
With this achievement, Grande celebrates her remarkable 22nd career top 10 entry on the Hot 100, marking her third top 10 hit this year alone. This follows her two chart-topping singles: “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” in March and “Yes, And?” in January. Grande first burst onto the top 10 scene with her debut track “The Way,” featuring Mac Miller, which reached No. 9 in June 2013. Her consistent success in the industry illustrates her ability to resonate with audiences and maintain her relevance throughout the years.
On the other hand, Clarkson achieves her 12th top 10 hit on the Hot 100, making this her first top 10 entry since “Piece by Piece” peaked at No. 8 in March 2016. The original American Idol winner burst onto the scene with her iconic debut single “A Moment Like This,” which dominated the charts for two weeks in October 2002. Clarkson’s ongoing presence in the music industry showcases her talent and the lasting appeal of her festive music, making her a staple during the holiday season.
Reflecting how modern traditions are embraced during the holiday season, “Santa Tell Me” has become the most recently released seasonal song to break into the Hot 100’s top 10. Meanwhile, “Underneath the Tree” holds the title of the second-newest song to achieve this feat. Prior to this week, Kenny G held the record for the most recently released holiday top 10 with his rendition of “Auld Lang Syne,” which reached No. 7 during the Y2K holiday season, showcasing the evolving nature of holiday music and its reception by listeners.
Among holiday classics, Mariah Carey’s 1994 hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You” continues to reign supreme, achieving an extraordinary 17 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100. It is the only holiday song from the ’90s to have reached the top 10, alongside New Kids on the Block’s “This One’s for the Children,” which peaked at No. 7 during the 1989 holiday season. These iconic tracks have paved the way for newer holiday songs to gain traction within the ever-growing music charts.
The legacy of holiday songs on the Hot 100 includes tracks released between 1946, such as Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song [Merry Christmas to You],” and 1984 with Wham!’s “Last Christmas.” The majority of holiday hits reaching the top 10 have emerged this decade, driven by the surge in streaming services and the increasing popularity of holiday music playlists. This trend signifies a shift in how audiences consume music during the festive season, allowing for a diverse range of seasonal favorites to be celebrated.
The Hot 100 is a comprehensive chart that combines all-genre U.S. streaming data, including both official audio and video streams, alongside radio airplay and sales figures. It’s important to note that this data reflects purchases of physical singles and digital tracks from full-service digital music retailers, while excluding sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) platforms. The chart, dated Dec. 28, 2024, will update on Billboard.com on Tuesday, Dec. 24. For the latest chart news and updates, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on social media platforms, including X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.
