Hold onto your Santa hats, because there’s a new holiday heavyweight in town—and it’s not Mariah Carey. Wham!’s ‘Last Christmas’ has dethroned the queen of Christmas herself, claiming the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Global 200 chart. But here’s where it gets emotional: this victory comes years after the passing of George Michael, the song’s creator, who died on Christmas Day in 2016 at the age of 53. His team shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, saying, ‘George adored Christmas, and he would have truly loved seeing Wham! back at No. 1 this year.’ It’s a bittersweet triumph that feels like both a celebration and a tribute.
And this is the part most people miss: ‘Last Christmas,’ written by Michael himself, isn’t just a festive tune—it’s a poignant story of heartbreak set against the backdrop of the holidays. Yet, its timeless appeal continues to captivate audiences old and new. ‘It’s the best Christmas gift we and George could ever have wished for,’ Wham!’s Andrew Ridgeley wrote on Instagram, echoing the sentiment of fans worldwide.
But here’s where it gets controversial: while Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ has dominated the charts every December since 2020, could ‘Last Christmas’ be the new holiday anthem? Or is Mariah’s reign simply on pause? Let’s not forget the other festive favorites climbing the charts. As of December 18, Brenda Lee’s ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ sits at No. 5, Bobby Helms’ ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ at No. 6, and Ariana Grande’s ‘Santa Tell Me’ at No. 7. These classics prove that the holiday music landscape is more competitive—and diverse—than ever.
Is ‘Last Christmas’ a one-hit wonder for the season, or is it here to stay? Share your thoughts in the comments—do you think George Michael’s masterpiece deserves its new crown, or is Mariah Carey still the undisputed queen of Christmas? One thing’s for sure: this holiday season just got a whole lot more interesting.
