Mariah Carey Reclaims Her Throne: “All I Want for Christmas Is You” Becomes Longest-Running #1 in History

Music history was rewritten this week as Mariah Carey’s holiday masterpiece, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” officially became the longest-running number-one song in the 67-year history of the Billboard Hot 100.

As of the chart dated December 20, 2025, the 1994 classic has logged its 20th week at the summit, breaking a high-stakes three-way tie with Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” and Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” both of which previously held the record at 19 weeks.

 

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“Humbly Taking Back the Torch”

Upon receiving the news, Carey took to social media to celebrate with her “Lambily” fan base. Posting a photo of herself holding a symbolic torch, the singer wrote, “Humbly taking back the torch!! 20 weeks at #1… I’m so grateful.”

In an exclusive sit-down with Billboard News, Carey expressed a mixture of shock and vindication. “It’s amazing. Honestly, it really is. I can’t lie,” Carey told host Tetris Kelly. The achievement is particularly sweet for the diva, who previously held the longevity record for 23 years with her 1995 Boyz II Men collaboration, “One Sweet Day,” before it was surpassed by Lil Nas X in 2019.

Carey joked during the interview about her competitive spirit, admitting that losing the record years ago felt like it was “robbed” from her. “I was upset! But what are you gonna do? Well, what you’re gonna do is have a classic Christmas song that returns to #1 every year.”

A Record-Breaking Season

The milestone caps off a historic month for Carey. In addition to the longevity record, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” has now spent 77 total weeks on the Hot 100, tying Dua Lipa’s “Levitating” for the most weeks on the chart by a female artist.

Industry analysts credit the song’s unprecedented staying power to a “perfect storm” of streaming dominance, annual holiday airplay, and Carey’s relentless seasonal branding. The track has amassed over 2.37 billion streams on Spotify alone, making it the most-streamed holiday song in history.

Chart Milestones: Longest Runs at #1

What’s Next for the Queen of Christmas?

While the holiday season is reaching its fever pitch, Carey is already looking toward 2026. Earlier this week, the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics organizing committee confirmed that Carey will be the headline performer for the Opening Ceremony in Milan on February 6, 2026.

When asked how much further her holiday hit can go, Carey laughed, “I don't know. 30? 40? At a certain point, it’s not Christmas anymore… but I love it.”