Elvis Presley, the legendary King of Rock and Roll, has made a triumphant return to the Billboard Hot 100’s top 20, as his timeless 1957 holiday classic, “Blue Christmas,” climbs to the 18th position on the chart dated January 6, 2024. This remarkable resurgence marks the first time Presley has graced the Hot 100’s top 20 since October 1, 1977, when his song “Way Down” achieved a similar feat, reaching the 18th spot, which also happened to be its peak position.
The enduring popularity of Elvis Presley’s music continues to captivate audiences across generations, even after his passing at the age of 42 on August 16, 1977. “Blue Christmas” now adds another accolade to Presley’s illustrious career, becoming his 49th top 20 hit on the Hot 100 chart, a remarkable achievement that ranks him fourth in the chart’s history since its inception on August 4, 1958. Leading the pack are Drake with 133 top 20 hits, followed by Taylor Swift with 85 and Lil Wayne with 53.
The resurgence of “Blue Christmas” is driven by its impressive performance in both streaming and radio airplay. The song garnered 23.3 million official U.S. streams, marking a 15% increase, and received 7.7 million in radio airplay audience, a 3% boost, during the week of December 22-28. Notably, this impressive surge occurred within just four days leading up to and including Christmas Day, as reported by Luminate.
“Blue Christmas,” penned by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson, has made its mark on the Hot 100 in various interpretations. In addition to Presley’s rendition, The Browns’ version reached No. 97 in 1960, and Kane Brown’s interpretation climbed to No. 73 during the previous holiday season. The song’s enduring appeal is a testament to its timeless charm and festive spirit.
Furthermore, Elvis Presley joins an exclusive group of music icons, including Chuck Berry, Nat King Cole, Perry Como, and Dean Martin, who continue to have holiday titles featured on the latest Hot 100 chart. These artists also share the distinction of having the longest span of appearances on the chart, spanning an impressive 65 years and five months, encompassing the entire history of the Hot 100 since its inception.
As Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree“ reclaims the top position on the Hot 100, holiday classics dominate the chart like never before, with the top eight titles all being holiday songs, a historic milestone. In fact, a remarkable 41 holiday songs adorn the entire chart, surpassing last year’s record of 40, demonstrating the enduring appeal of holiday music to listeners around the world.
