NEW YORK — As the calendar flips to December 18, 2025, the air is thick with more than just the scent of pine and cinnamon; it’s filled with the inevitable, annual debates over the holiday playlist. Today, Mary Clarke of For The Win released her highly anticipated 2025 update to the definitive ranking of the “10 Best Christmas Songs of All Time,” sparking conversations from radio booths to dinner tables across the nation.
While music tastes are notoriously subjective, Clarke’s list leans heavily into the emotional architecture of the season: the “earworms” that keep us humming in checkout lines, the “nostalgia bringers” that recall childhood mornings, and the “tear jerkers” that remind us of those no longer at the table.
The Gold Standard of Holiday Harmony
Taking the top spot for 2025 is Judy Garland’s “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Clarke describes it as the “gold standard” of the season, and for good reason. Originally performed in the 1944 film Meet Me in St. Louis, Garland’s version captures the bittersweet essence of the holidays—the delicate balance between festive hope and the quiet melancholy of passing time. In an era of high-production pop hits, its enduring simplicity remains unmatched.
Not far behind is the “King” of Christmas himself. Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)” secured the #3 position. From the opening line about chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Cole’s velvet vocals act as a sonic fireplace. It is, according to the ranking, the most “perfectly comforting” song ever recorded.
The Modern Classics and the Hidden Gems
No list in 2025 would be complete without the reigning Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey. Her 1994 smash “All I Want for Christmas Is You” sits at #4. Clarke notes that while liking the song might feel “basic” to some, its cultural dominance is undeniable. It is “Christmas joy personified,” remaining the only song from the modern era to achieve the same legendary status as the mid-century classics.
In a surprising twist, Clarke highlights a “hidden gem” at #8: Kelly Clarkson’s cover of “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” To clarify for confused fans: this isn’t a cover of Carey’s hit, but rather a powerhouse rendition of the 1989 Vince Vance & The Valiants original. With brassy horns and Clarkson’s signature vocal gymnastics, it’s a track Clarke insists “more people need to appreciate.”
The Full Top 10 Countdown
For those looking to curate their own 2025 holiday “Wrapped” playlist, here is how the top ten shook out:
| Rank | Song Title | Artist | The “Vibe” |
| 1 | Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas | Judy Garland | Bittersweet & Hopeful |
| 2 | Merry Christmas Baby | Otis Redding | Soulful & Gritty |
| 3 | The Christmas Song | Nat King Cole | Pure Comfort |
| 4 | All I Want for Christmas Is You | Mariah Carey | Modern Pop Perfection |
| 5 | Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 | Trans-Siberian Orchestra | Epic & Orchestral |
| 6 | White Christmas | Bing Crosby | Pure Nostalgia |
| 7 | It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year | Andy Williams | High-Energy Tradition |
| 8 | All I Want For Christmas Is You | Kelly Clarkson | Brassy Powerhouse |
| 9 | What Christmas Means to Me | Stevie Wonder | Motown Joy |
| 10 | Christmas Wrapping | The Waitresses | 80s Relatability |
Why Music Still Matters
The 2025 report emphasizes that Christmas music is more than just background noise; it is a “fundamental joy of life” that acts as a bridge between generations. Whether it’s the shredding guitars of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (#5) or the sheer, unadulterated happiness of Stevie Wonder’s harmonica solo (#9), these songs formulate a major part of the human experience.
As we move into the final week before the holiday, these ten tracks are expected to dominate streaming charts and radio waves, proving once again that while the world changes, the soundtrack to our celebrations remains a timeless constant.