In a stunning festive upset, Mariah Carey's long-held Christmas music crown has slipped just a week before the big day. Her iconic 1994 anthem, 'All I Want for Christmas Is You', has been knocked from the top of the prestigious Billboard Global 200 chart in the United States.
A New Festive King Is Crowned
The song that has ended Carey's historic reign is the beloved 1984 hit 'Last Christmas' by Wham! This marks a monumental shift, as it is the first time a different Christmas track has claimed the number one spot on this particular chart since its inception in 2020. Andrew Ridgeley, the surviving member of the iconic duo, publicly expressed his delight at seeing their perennial favourite finally secure the coveted top position.
The End of a Record-Breaking Run
Carey's festive juggernaut is no ordinary hit. Before its dethronement on Friday 19 December 2025, the song had dominated the Global 200 for a staggering record 19 weeks across multiple holiday seasons. Its cultural and commercial power remains undiminished; it continues to be the most-streamed holiday song of all time and maintains its stranglehold on radio airwaves and party playlists worldwide, earning the superstar millions in annual royalties.
What This Chart Battle Means
While the chart change signals a fresh victory for the classic 80s track, it underscores the intense and lucrative competition within the holiday music canon. Carey's song set an incredibly high benchmark, and its displacement by another timeless classic highlights the enduring public appetite for festive music that defines generations. The chart tussle between these two giants is likely to become an annual talking point, adding a new layer of rivalry to the Christmas season.
Ultimately, this chart change proves that even the most seemingly unshakeable festive traditions can see a shake-up. For now, the ghosts of Christmas past, in the form of Wham!, have momentarily outshone the modern queen of the season.
