Kylie Minogue has earned her 11th UK No 1 album, drawing level with David Bowie, Eminem, U2 and Rod Stewart in the all-time list of chart-toppers. The album, Kylie Christmas (Fully Wrapped), is a reissue of her 2015 Christmas LP, which originally peaked at No 12. It includes four newly recorded tracks and an altered tracklisting, and counts as a new album in chart terms, extending a non-consecutive run of No 1s that began in 1988.
With this achievement, Minogue overtakes Abba, Coldplay, Michael Jackson, Elton John and Queen. She is now some way off joint leaders the Beatles and Robbie Williams, who each have 15 No 1 albums. Williams hopes to become the all-time leader in February with the release of his forthcoming studio album, Britpop.
Minogue also appears in the singles chart this week with 'Xmas', an Amazon exclusive Christmas song, currently at No 16. The track is expected to rise as CD and vinyl editions are released, boosting its sales. Taking an early lead in the race for the Christmas No 1 is Wham!'s 'Last Christmas', which tops the singles chart this week, displacing Taylor Swift's 'The Fate of Ophelia' after seven non-consecutive weeks at No 1.
Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' is at No 3, Brenda Lee's 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree' at No 4, and Kelly Clarkson's 'Underneath the Tree' earns its first Top 5 placing since 2013. There are 20 Christmas songs in the Top 40 overall. Next week, new charity and novelty singles will enter the race, including 'Lullaby' by Together for Palestine, 'Brighter Than the Night' by Vicky McClure and SpudBros, and 'Giant Armadillo' by Bob the Drag Queen.
British pop singer Raye could cause an upset with her non-festive track 'Where Is My Husband?', currently at No 2. If it reaches No 1, it would be the first non-festive or charity song to claim the Christmas No 1 since Ed Sheeran's 'Perfect' in 2017. The UK Christmas No 1 will be announced at 4pm on Friday 19 December.
