Pop icon Kylie Minogue has clinched her first-ever UK Christmas Number 1 single, it was confirmed on Friday. Her festive track, XMAS, has topped the Official Christmas Chart, dethroning the perennial favourite Last Christmas by Wham!.
A Historic Chart Milestone
This victory is not just a seasonal triumph but a historic one. At 57, the Australian superstar has broken records previously held by music legends Madonna and Mariah Carey. Kylie Minogue is now the first woman in UK chart history to secure Number 1 singles in four distinct decades.
Her chart-topping journey spans the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and now the 2020s. This phenomenal achievement places her in an elite club alongside Sir Elton John, Elvis Presley, and Queen, who are the only other acts to have scored Number 1s across four decades. XMAS marks her eighth UK Number 1 single overall.
The Festive Chart Battle
Minogue's success halted the late George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley's classic Last Christmas from claiming the Christmas top spot for a third consecutive year. The Wham! hit settles for the runner-up position this time.
The rest of the Top 5 saw familiar festive faces. Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You holds firm at Number 3 for a second year, while Brenda Lee's Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree is at Number 4.
This latest chart feat follows closely on the heels of Minogue's number one album, Kylie Christmas (Fully Wrapped), which topped the charts just last week. Her campaign was boosted by a performance on Strictly Come Dancing, watched by nearly seven million viewers, and radio appearances.
Streaming Shapes the Modern Christmas Race
The landscape of the Christmas chart has been fundamentally altered by the dominance of streaming. Changes in compilation rules, where 100 streams now equate to one sale, have given established classics a significant advantage in the annual festive race.
Martin Talbot, Chief Executive of the Official Charts Company, noted: 'Streaming has completely transformed the way the Christmas No1 is decided. Classic songs have a real shot at returning to the top each year, thanks to their enduring popularity on playlists.'
XMAS also made history as the first Amazon Music Original track ever to reach Number One in the Official Christmas Chart. Its status as an Amazon exclusive likely amplified its streams through playlist placements on devices like Alexa.
Further down the chart, the highest new entry was the poignant charity single Lullaby by Together For Palestine at Number 5, which was also the week's best-selling track. The song, featuring artists like Bastille's Dan Smith and Celeste, is raising urgent funds for children in Gaza.
Reflecting on her landmark achievement, Kylie Minogue said: 'It’s hard to put into words how special this feels. Being Christmas Number One really is the most wonderful gift! I’m so thankful to everyone who’s been listening and sharing the love.'
