The annual Christmas music showdown between Mariah Carey and Brenda Lee is a tradition as predictable as the last-minute holiday shopping rush.
While many holiday classics fill the airwaves, two songs consistently battle for the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 during the festive season: Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”
Lee’s holiday hit, released in 1958 when she was just 14, first entered the Hot 100 in 1960, peaking at No. 14.
However, it wasn’t until the 2013-2014 holiday season that “Rockin’” re-entered the charts, eventually reaching No. 2 for several years, including 2019-2022.
Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” from her 1994 album Merry Christmas, debuted on the charts in 1994 but didn’t crack the top 10 until 2017. It reached No. 1 in 2019 and has dominated every holiday season since.
However, in 2023, Lee’s “Rockin’” finally topped the Hot 100 for three weeks, while Carey’s song led for two weeks.
This marked just the third time a holiday song has reached No. 1, with the first being “The Chipmunk Song” in 1958.
The success of both songs can be attributed to the rise of streaming, curated holiday playlists, radio airplay, and sales.
Both artists have also embraced the viral nature of their hits, with Carey’s annual “it’s time” clips and Lee’s TikTok presence helping to keep their songs in the spotlight.
Whether you’re team Mariah or team Brenda, the Christmas music battle continues to rock around the Christmas tree every year.
