65 of the Best Christmas Songs to Get You in the Holiday Spirit

Call us eager, but we think it’s about time to start thinking about our Christmas playlist. (Hey, considering the year we’ve had, it’s never too early to get a cheerful holiday soundtrack ready.)

Whether you’re thinking about family visits, planning a holiday party, starting your shopping list, whipping up some winter cocktails, enjoying a fancy dinner or simply just looking to get into the Christmas spirit, there’s just something about these songs that are guaranteed to have you feeling festive. We’re talking ballads, love songs, kids tracks and the classics from our favorite singers. From “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey to “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” by Bing Crosby. No matter the occasion this holiday season, we’ve got you covered.

Here are 65 of the best Christmas songs you’ll be playing on repeat from now until December.

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Genre: Holiday

Run Time: 2:31

While it was written specifically for his debut Christmas album, Williams made sure to include this happy tune on all seven (!) of his holiday albums to follow.

Genre: Jazz

Run Time: 2:55

Michael Bublé also released a gorgeous rendition in 2003…but Crosby still holds the number one spot in our book.

Genre: Classical

Run Time: 2:15

This one was actually written by Jewish Composer Johnny Marks. Surprisingly, Marks went on to write a handful of other popular Christmas songs, including “Run Rudolph Run.”

Not only is it the ultimate anthem about what women really want for Christmas, the song also jumpstarted Kitt to fame.

The track was recorded in 1977 for Crosby’s TV special, Bing Crosby’s Merrie Olde Christmas. When asked why Bowie decided to do the special he stated, “I knew my mom liked him [Crosby],” according to Smooth Radio.

Genre: Rock

Run Time: 4:32

According to The Guardian, the song was created on a wager made by Elvis Costello. Per the outlet, Costello bet Shane MacGowan that he couldn’t write a Christmas duet to sing with bass player Cait O’Riordan. We bet he’s happy he took that one. .

Original performer James Boyd recorded the song when he was just 13. And as it turns out, Michael Jackson was just on the cusp of his 12th birthday when his family did this rendition.

Genre: Holiday

Run Time: 3:26

The song was originally introduced by Judy Garland in her musical Meet Me in St. Louis. But four years later, Sinatra released this gem.

Genre: Rock

Run Time: 3:47

McCartney wrote this one about his own experience and feelings about the most wonderful time of the year. And we would have to agree with him.

Genre: Soul

Run Time: 3:01

Brown’s hit appeared on his 22nd studio album (yes, you read that correctly) titled “A Soulful Christmas.”

Genre: Holiday

Run Time: 1:57

When the weather outside is frightful, stay in and turn this one up loud.

Genre: Rock

Run Time: 2:45

The track was used in the 1990 movie Home Alone during the dramatic airport scene where the family rushes passed security and almost misses their flight. Minus little Kevin, of course.

Genre: Holiday

Run Time: 2:45

The lyrics were written by Gloria Shayne Baker in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis when the USSR was spotted constructing bases for ballistic nuclear missiles in Cuba. It was essentially written as a cry for peace.

Genre: Light

Run Time: 3:01

The American girl group managed to land their cover of the song on the Billboard’s Top Ten U.S. Holiday 100 (multiple times). And did we mention it earned the 26th spot in the Hot 100 back in 2018?

Genre: Jazz

Run Time: 2:43

Apparently, the song was intended to be an instrumental piece written to open A Charlie Brown Christmas. Not too long before it was set to air, producers decided to add some lyrics.

One of the newer songs on this list, “Mistletoe” isn’t just a favorite of pre-teens (now adults) with Bieber fever. The song instantly became a hit and now makes its way onto radios and karaoke machines every year.

Genre: Holiday

Run Time: 3:03

We’re not surprised that Guinness World Records named this song the best-selling single of all time.

This beautiful tune is so popular that it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1974.

Genre: Holiday

Run Time: 3:02

This number was originally sung by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell in the the 1950s film The Lemon Drop Kid. A year later, Crosby recorded his version.

Genre: Folk

Run Time: 2:30

Rumor has it that Autry got the idea for the song after riding in the 1946 Santa Claus Lane Parade in Los Angeles. Per Song Facts, while Autry was riding close to the big man himself, all he could hear were kids chanting “Here comes Santa Claus.”

Their album of the same name tends to not get the recognition it deserves. But this song in particular (think of it as a 21st century “12 Days of Christmas”) is sure to get stuck in your head.

Leave it to Carey to create a song that scores number one on the Billboard charts 25 years after it was originally recorded. Play this for any crowd and watch them go wild.

There’s plenty of decent renditions of this classic out there. But in our opinion, nothing compares to Dion’s version.

Genre: Folk

Run Time: 2:53

Although it’s not the original, there’s just something about Autry’s country voice that adds a little something extra to this tune you’ve been singing your whole life.

Genre: Contemporary

Run Time: 4:18

Why yes, this is the one featured in the popular animated film, The Polar Express.

Genre: Rock

Run Time: 2:09

Elvis recorded “Blue Christmas” in 1957 for his Christmas Album, but didn’t release it as a single until 1964. Four years later, he performed it for the first time on the TV special, Elvis.

Genre: Contemporary

Run Time: 3:25

Even live, these four Irish women can make us want to listen to an 19th century Austrian Christmas carol on repeat.

Genre: Rock

Run Time: 2:06

Fun fact: Brenda Lee was only 13 when she recorded this classic.

According to Song Facts, Grande told her fans the song is “sort of about being fed up with Santa because he doesn’t necessarily pull through all the time.” Who doesn’t love a little holiday cynicism?

Genre: Jazz

Run Time: 2:22

Per the Smithsonian, a harmonica version Fitzgerald’s rendition was the first song ever played in space.

Genre: Holiday

Run Time: 2:07

Although it wasn’t an original, Martin’s “Winter Wonderland” was one of the many popular hits off of his Christmas album.

Different language, same message.

Genre: Rock

Run Time: 3:34

Also popularly known as “The War is Over,” Lennon and Ono enlisted the help of the Harlem Community Choir for this one.

Genre: Rock

Run Time: 4:25

While Crosby has an impressive version of this hit, Springsteen gives him a run for his money with this energetic one.

Genre: Holiday

Run Time: 3:26

You didn’t think we’d go this entire list without including at least one song from the king of Christmas himself did you? It’s like his voice was made for this holiday.

Genre: Hip Hop

Run Time: 2:58

The music video for this hip hop holiday song, about the group’s run in with Santa in Queens, is also quite entertaining.

Genre: Soul

Run Time: 3:02

As of the late 20th century, “Joy to the World” was the most-published Christmas hymn in North America. And Frankin’s upbeat and soulful version just made it even more popular.

Leave it to the American Idol alum to release her own holiday original that (not-surprisingly) became a holiday pop staple.

Our favorite boys really outdid themselves with their first and only original Christmas single. Plus, the video is worth the watch just for its totally over the top use of a green screen.

Houston donated her recording of “Do You Hear What I Hear” for the first A Very Special Christmas benefit album in 1987, raising money for the Special Olympics.

Even though George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley released this song in the ’80s, it didn’t hit the top of the charts until 2017.

Genre: Jazz

Run Time: 2:20

It wasn’t intended to be a Christmas song but “My Favorite Things” from the Sound of Music has become one of the classics. Not to mention, Andrews’ version will always be our favorite.

Genre: Soul

Run Time: 2:46

Love sang her hit, which is also referred to as “Baby Please Come Home,” for 28 straight years in a row on the David Letterman show. Letterman even dubbed her the “Queen of Christmas.”

Genre: Children’s

Run Time: 2:21

Sure, many find the chipmunks to be, well, annoying. But there’s simply something about when Alvin hits his high note that has kids and parents alike singing along to the tune.

Genre: Country

Run Time: 3:37

Even though the song was originally written for a play, who said country can’t be Christmas?

Genre: Rock

Run Time: 3:26

The married couple (who divorced a year later) debuted the song in ‘79 and 20 years later, it was made into a TV special of the same name.

Genre: Rock

Run Time: 5:20

The song is literally about a meet-cute between two people at a checkout line. Need we say more?

Genre: Folk

Run Time: 2:48

It’s the accompanying accordion that really sold us on Dylan’s up-tempo version.

Is it even Christmas time if you don’t hear this at the mall at least five times?

While we never quite got a entire Christmas album from the pop sensation, she was generous enough to give us this single (about her lack of love during the holidays) almost 20 years ago.

Genre: Jazz

Run Time: 1:55

Originally performed by (you guessed it) Bing Crosby in the movie Holiday Inn, there’s just something about Lee’s version that gets us in the mood to do our Christmas shopping.

Genre: Soul

Run Time: 2:35

It might not be the original, but we’re adding Redding’s version of the R&B hit to all of our Christmas playlists.

Genre: Rock

Run Time: 3:38

Written by Robbie Robertson, the song was originally recorded in 1975, but it did not appear on The Band’s 1975 album, Northern Lights, Southern Cross. In fact, it was re-recorded and later landed a spot on their 1977 album, Island.

Another Julie Andrews classic from her first-ever holiday album.

Genre: Big Band

Run Time: 2:30

Connick Jr. released his version of the classic in 1993, and since then, it has become one of the most popular renditions of the song. He even made sure to use kids’ vocals at the beginning of the track.

Genre: Children’s

Run Time: 3:05

Yup, our favorite song from the film’s soundtrack manages to get stuck in our head every time we watch the film. So, naturally, we had to add it to the list.

This one pretty much speaks for itself.

Count down to Christmas with this sweet ballad from Lewis’s first holiday album.

Listen as Taylor Swift takes you down memory lane, reminiscing about her time living on a Christmas tree farm.

Three divas on one iconic Christmas song.

Genre: Soul

Run Time: 2:28

Another soulful Christmas classic by Stevie Wonder. The singer even returned to feature on a cover of the song from R&B star John Legend in 2018.

While there are several renditions of this Christmas staple, this pop diva’s version takes the cake.

A sultry take on this usually upbeat classic from the iconic R&B boyband Boyz II Men.

Genre: Jazz

Run Time: 4:13

Grab your mug of cocoa and snuggle by the fire with the smooth stylings of jazz vocalist Samara Joy playing in the background.

Genre: Jazz

Run Time: 1:08

Get into the holiday spirit with yet another Christmas classic by Nat King Cole.