76 Best Christmas Songs to Download Onto Your Holiday Playlist This Year
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There are very few holidays where a great playlist is needed to make your day more fun. Christmas is definitely one of them. But if we're being honest, listening to Christmas carols on repeat starts way before December 25. If you happen to be one of those people who can’t wait to belt out the best Christmas songs of all time, have we got a treat for you.
We've put together the ultimate Christmas playlist, including all of your favorite merry holiday tunes. We've got classics (think traditional numbers like "The 12 Days of Christmas" and "Jingle Bells"), as well as modern Christmas songs from Mariah Carey, Michael Bublé, Kelly Clarkson and more. We have some of the most popular country jingles centered around Christmastime, including the best holiday hits from Dolly Parton. And there are plenty of R&B and religious-based numbers as well. Of course, almost all of these Christmas songs are great for kids, especially when you're baking cookies or wrapping presents together.
And hey, don't be surprised if some of these lyrics turn out to be inspiration for your Christmas Instagram captions or help you when trying to decide what to write in your holiday cards!
All I Want for Christmas Is You (1994)
Mariah Carey has a whole album filled with Christmas songs, but this upbeat pop song (complete with jingle bells!) is her most enduring. So enduring, in fact, that the song hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts at the end of 2021, 27 years after it was originally recorded.
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White Christmas (1942)
Bing Crosby's classic hit about a picturesque Christmas scene is one of the most popular holiday songs ever — the Guinness World Records even named it the best-selling single of all time.
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Last Christmas (1984)
Pop duo Wham!, composed of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, released this song in 1984, but it didn't hit the top of the charts until 2017 (after Michael's death), despite inspiring many cover versions over the years.
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I'll Be Home For Christmas (1943)
We couldn't stop at one Crosby tune; this heartfelt holiday song is a moving tribute to the soldiers who fought in World War II.
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Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (1944)
Judy Garland originally recorded this soft Christmas song for the musical Meet Me in St. Louis, which is about four daughters coming of age while getting ready to move to New York. Time for a re-watch?
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Jingle Bell Rock (1983)
The best-known version of this holiday classic was recorded by Bobby Helms in 1957, but Hall & Oates released it as a single in the early '80s complete with a can't-miss music video.
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Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (1971)
John Lennon and Yoko Ono recorded this with the Harlem Community Choir as a protest song against the Vietnam War, and it eventually became a classic Christmas hit.
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The Christmas Song (1946)
Everyone knows this holiday song, so it barely needs a name — it's the one where Nat King Cole sings, "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire." It's so popular that it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1974.
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Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (1958)
Brenda Lee was only 13 years old (!) when she recorded this holiday favorite. She'd probably wouldn't have guessed that people would still be listening to it today.
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Christmas Vacation (1989)
The only Vacation movie to not feature Lindsey Buckingham's "Holiday Road," National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation opens with Mavis Staples singing this upbeat tune instead.
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Christmas, Baby Please Come Home (1963)
Darlene Love's barn-burner of a song may be about heartbreak, but it makes us happy to hear it every year.
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Frosty the Snowman (1947)
Gene Autry is the performer behind this song and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," so it's a voice you've been attached to since you were a little kid.
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Mele Kelikimaka (Merry Christmas) (1950)
Bing is back, this time with the Andrews Sisters for a fun and bouncy song that tells listeners that "Mele Kelikimaka" is Hawaii's way to say "Merry Christmas to you."
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Jingle Bells (1960)
Ella Fitzgerald's jazzy rendition of this Christmas classic is a holiday staple. A harmonica version of it was actually the first song ever played in outer space, according to the Smithsonian.
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Santa Baby (1953)
This cheeky song by Eartha Kitt is about wanting some pretty extravagant Christmas gifts. Even though this is a holiday tune, it's one of her most well-known songs ever.
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Blue Christmas (1957)
Elvis Presley's recording of this song is the most well-known version, but rumor has it that he didn't even want to sing it in the first place, according to an interview with late singer Millie Kirkham.
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Hard Candy Christmas (1982)
Written as a song for the musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Dolly made the tune her own for the big screen adaptation that she starred in with Burt Reynolds in the '80s.
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Run, Rudolph, Run (1958)
When you need a Christmas song with some rock and roll to it, Chuck Berry is the first one to call. This one will get people to get up and dance!
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Sleigh Ride (1958)
This Johnny Mathis pop song is from his first Christmas album ever — in total, he's released six throughout his career.
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The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) (1958)
This novelty Christmas song came out back in the '50s, but we're sure everyone still knows what Alvin wants to find under the tree. It's a certified kid-pleaser.
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Somewhere in My Memory (1990)
Composed by John Williams with lyrics by Leslie Bricusse for the original Home Alone film, this song was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song (it lost out to Stephen Sondheim's "Sooner or Later" from Dick Tracy).
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Winter Wonderland (1966)
Dean Martin's take on this classic holiday hit is upbeat and genuinely fun to listen to. He, too, has an entire Christmas album complete with his take on all your holiday favorites.
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It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (1963)
Fun fact: This holiday pop song by Andy Williams has been featured in back-to-school commercials for Staples.
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Little Saint Nick (1963)
Instead of a "little deuce coupe," this time the Boys are singing about Santa and his sleigh.
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Christmastime Is Here (1965)
There's something melancholy about this song, which everyone knows from A Charlie Brown Christmas, but it wouldn't feel like the holidays without it. You can get this song with the vocals, or as an instrumental.
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Must Be Santa (2009)
Bob Dylan seems like a strange fit for a Christmas album, but his Christmas in the Heart features this jaunty, accordion-filled tune that no one can resist.
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Do You Hear What I Hear? (1987)
Whitney Houston's voice make this traditional carol soar above the others. Pentatonix even worked with a recording of her voice for a posthumous collaboration back in 2019.
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Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (1985)
Just give this Bruce Springsteen song a listen, and you'll instantly realize why he's called "The Boss." It's the most energetic performance of this classic holiday song out there.
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This Christmas (1971)
You've probably heard this soulful song covered by plenty of other artists, but Donny Hathaway was the first. Rolling Stone even called him one of the "most important Black performers"of his time.
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Merry Christmas, Baby (1968)
For an R&B Christmas, there's nothing more soulful that Otis Redding's version of the Johnny Moore's Three Blazers tune.
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Christmastime Is Here Again (1968)
The Flirtations may not have achieved the heights of other '60s girl groups, but their Christmas number, originally released as a B-side, is a banger.
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Feliz Navidad (1970)
Puerto Rican singer José Feliciano's upbeat song has easy-to-remember lyrics in both Spanish and English, making it the best bi-lingual Christmas song.
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I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (1970)
Even though Jimmy Boyd was the original artist of this song, Jackson 5's cover is so much catchier, with funky beats, amazing vocals and innocent conversations recorded in the background.
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Silent Night (1970)
The Temptations' soulful rendition of Silent Night is one of Motown's best.
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What Do The Lonely Do At Christmas? (1973)
Not all Christmas songs are uplifting. The holidays can be a rough time for many. Let this soulful song by The Emotions help you find some comfort.
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Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy (1977)
David Bowie and Bing Crosby teamed up for this duet for the TV special Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas. Sadly, it was was one of the last recordings Crosby made before he died.
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Christmas in Hollis (1987)
When it comes to hip-hop Christmas songs, nothing comes close to Run DMC's ode to spending the holiday in Queens and having a chance run-in with Santa Claus.
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Merry Christmas Baby (1997)
Hanson's first Christmas album, Snowed In, was the best-selling holiday album of the year in the United States. "Merry Christmas Baby," the first track on the album, was originally written in the 1940s, but the Hanson brothers put their own rock 'n roll spin on it.
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Christmas Must Be Tonight (1977)
For Christmas with a roots-rock vibe, this song by The Band celebrates the life of the "son of a carpenter" who brought the world joy.
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Wonderful Christmastime (1980)
John Lennon wasn't the only Beatle to make a Christmas classic: Paul McCartney wrote his about the good vibes on Christmas.
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Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (1982)
Julie Andrews' graceful voice rings crystal clear in this classic religious hymn from her first holiday album, Christmas With Julie Andrews.
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Deck the Halls (1984)
The electric guitar in this Mannheim Steamroller song is nothing short of iconic. Expect to hear it in commercials, at restaurants, and in the background of holiday light shows all season long.
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Give Love on Christmas Day (1985)
The Jackson 5 made this song a classic holiday tune, but New Edition gave it their own flair in this updated rendition.
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Pretty Paper (1979)
Written by Willie Nelson but originally recorded by Roy Orbison, Nelson included this Christmas song on his first Christmas album.
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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1993)
Harry Connick, Jr.'s take on this song about everyone's favorite reindeer is so upbeat — he even greets the kids (who you hear singing, too) at the beginning of the track.
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Let It Snow (1993)
You can fill an entire Christmas playlist with different versions of "Let It Snow," but even if you don't, you can definitely make room for this one, which features the harmonies of Boyz II Men.
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8 Days of Christmas (2001)
Back when Beyoncé was just one member of Destiny's Child, this shortened version of the Christmas classic blared from boomboxes everywhere.
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Every Year, Every Christmas (1995)
Luther Vandross sings this smooth R&B tune, featured on his 1995 holiday album, This Is Christmas. Over a decade later, in 2007, Patti LaBelle covered the song as a tribute to the late singer.
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Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 (1996)
The Trans-Siberian Orchestra's take on the "Carol of the Bells" really builds to a huge crescendo. Sharp-eared listeners can hear other holiday classics mixed into the medley as well.
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Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays (1998)
The only single from their holiday album Home for Christmas, we dare you not to bop your head along to this catchy, upbeat Christmas tune from everyone's favorite '90s boy band (sorry, Backstreet Boys).
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The Little Drummer Boy (1999)
Lauryn Hill's melodic twist on this Christmas classic will have you nodding your head to its jazz inspired beat. Though The Little Drummer Boy has been covered by many, this version will undoubtedly become your favorite.
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O Holy Night (2014)
Opt for a more modern take on this holiday classic with this version by the talented a cappella group Pentatonix, which won NBC's a cappella competition show The Sing-Off in 2011.
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Believe (2004)
For a stunning Christmas ballad, turn on this song by Josh Groban from the hit film The Polar Express. It has an inspiring message you'll remember all season long.
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Joy to the World (2006)
Aretha Franklin wows in a version of the classic Christmas carol that's befitting of an artist with the nickname "The Queen of Soul."
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Carol of the Bells (2012)
Written by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych and lyricist Peter J. Wilhousky in 1914, this Christmas tune is actually based on a Ukrainian folk chant. This catchy acapella version was featured on Pentatonix's 2012 EP, PTXMas.
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Be There For Christmas (2008)
This upbeat tune is featured on Ledisi's 2008 Christmas album It's Christmas. In this song, she describes her excitement to come home to her sweetheart on Christmas. Once played, you'll have everyone up and dancing.
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O Come, All Ye Faithful (2008)
Faith Hill delivers a sparkling rendition of this ages-old hymn that takes us back to the very first Christmas.
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12 Days of Christmas (2009)
In 2006, a video of college acapella group Straight No Chaser's version of this classic Christmas song went viral because they added in bits of tunes like "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" and Toto's "Africa." This led to a record contract, and now the group has two full Christmas albums, but the original hit is still the best.
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We Need a Little Christmas (2010)
Although the cast of the TV show Glee performs this version, the song originally appeared in the 1966 Broadway musical Mame — and, in the production, it doesn't take place around Christmastime! There's a bit of Christmas trivia for you.
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The Christmas Waltz (2011)
She & Him, the duo comprised of Elf actress Zooey Deschanel and musician M. Ward, have an old-timey vibe to their music, so this is good for anyone looking for a retro Christmas mood. If you like their style, you can buy their two Christmas albums, A Very She & Him Christmas and Christmas Party.
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Mistletoe (2011)
Hark back to the days of intense Bieber fever with JB's hit song about hanging out with his special someone at Christmas.
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It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (2011)
Full disclosure, just about any Christmas song by Michael Bublé could make this list because of his soothing voice. You can't go wrong with any track from his Christmas album.
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What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? (2013)
Sure, it's not about Christmas, but this wistful song is about the holidays nonetheless. For the version he used on his Merry Christmas, Baby album, Rod Stewart uses the classic Ella Fitzgerald vocals and horns from trumpeter Chris Botti.
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One More Sleep (2013)
From Leona Lewis' first holiday album, this song cheerily counts down the days until Christmas. (Stars — they're just like us!)
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Underneath the Tree (2013)
An original Christmas song by pop princess Kelly Clarkson, this track's moving message and upbeat jingle made it an instant hit.
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Mary, Did You Know (2013)
So many Marys here: Mary J. Blige is singing "Mary, Did You Know" from her album, A Mary Christmas. In this case, more is definitely more.
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Do They Know It's Christmas? (1984)
Recorded by Band Aid in the '80s in response to the Ethiopian famine, this track features superstars Phil Collins, Sting, Boy George, Bono, Bob Geldof, George Michael and more.
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Someday at Christmas (2016)
This song was originally released as part of Stevie Wonder's 1967 Christmas album, but in 2016 he recorded this breathtaking version with soul singer Andra Day.
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We Three Gentlemen Medley (2017)
Violinist and YouTube star Lindsey Stirling plays a thrilling medley of "We Three Kings," "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "Carol of the Bells."
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You Make It Feel Like Christmas (2017)
The centerpiece of Gwen Stefani's Christmas album is this ode to fiance Blake Shelton who — awwww — sings on the track, too.
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What Christmas Means to Me (2018)
John Legend takes on this earnest song for his album, A Legendary Christmas. And who's that playing harmonica? It's Stevie Wonder again!
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Do You Hear What I Hear (2019)
From Celtic Woman's most recent Christmas album, The Magic of Christmas, comes this crystalline track that deserves a spot on any laid-back holiday playlist.
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Present Without a Bow (2019)
Country singer Kacey Musgraves released the soundtrack to her special The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Show. On this track, she's joined by singer Leon Bridges.
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If We Make It Through December (2020)
Not the most upbeat Christmas tune, but proceeds from Phoebe Bridgers's cover of a Merle Haggard song benefit Los Angeles' Downtown Women's Center. It's part of a holiday EP that also includes "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "Christmas Song"
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Christmas Where We Are (2020)
In 2020, Dolly Parton released her first holiday album, A Holly Dolly Christmas, in 30 years. For this tune, she was joined by Billy Ray Cyrus.
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Merry Christmas (2021)
With lyrics like "I know there's been pain this year, but it's time to let it go — next year, you never know" this tune from pop hit-makers Ed Sheeran and Elton John manages to be upbeat and hopeful without ignoring the difficult realities of the pandemic.
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