70 Modern Christmas Songs to Add to Your Holiday Playlist
This list is full of recent re-recordings of your favorite old hits and new Christmas carols from artists like Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana Grande.
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Fa-la-la-la-la, Christmas is here!
There are a lot of ways to get into the holiday spirit: You can decorate a tree, bake Christmas cookies, exchange gifts at a white elephant party—the list goes on. But one of the most effective ways to get into the holiday mood is to listen to Christmas music. However, if you’re not one for classics, we put together a list of modern Christmas songs that span an array of artists, from pop princesses Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana Grande to indie hitmakers Laufey and Sufjan Stevens.
There’s a song in the mix for everyone, even those who claim not to like Christmas music. Add these to your playlist to amplify all the holiday feels (and sounds)!
Kesha released her first foray into holiday music this year, covering Fleetwood Mac alum Lindsay Buckingham's original 1983 hit of the same name that was originally recorded for National Lampoon's Vacation. Kesha's version of the Christmas tune follows a much more rock instrumental.
Carry the joy of Sabrina's 2023 release into this year by rewatching her 2024 Christmas special, A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter, and cueing up this pop beat on your speaker.
In 2018, Jessie J released a cover of Kay Starr's 1950 hit, "(Everybody's Waitin' For) The Man With The Bag." Though she stays true to the original recording, Jessie J's powerhouse vocals can't help but seep through in this holiday hit.
Laufey brings her light, airy tone to Christmas in her rendition of this holiday classic. She released this track along with five others in a Christmas EP titled A Very Laufey Holiday in 2024.
This holiday song by Meghan Trainor is all about a promise to return home to loved ones, with lyrics such as, "The winter blows the snow up in the sky / But I won't let the wind delay my flight / I'll be home (home) with my love this Christmas / I promise, I promise."
Sufjan Stevens' sweet, sorrowful tune about the loneliness of Christmas is a beautiful reminder to open your arms, around the holidays and beyond.
Ne-Yo puts an R&B spin on several Christmas classics in his debut holiday album Another Kind of Christmas (2019). Our favorite is this rendition of "The Christmas Song." The album also includes five original holiday tracks.
"Candy Cane Lane" is an upbeat jingle from Sia's first holiday album, Every Day is Christmas (2017), which features 10 original Christmas songs from the famed "Chandelier" singer.
After Christmas comes New Years, which means putting the NYE anthem on your holiday playlist is a no-brainer. In this stunning rendition, you'll be able to cheer to all the good times: past and present.
A lot of us dream of finding love during the holiday season, and this bouncy pop song by Britney Spears perfectly captures that wish. At this point, the Christmas song is practically a classic.
Cher—really can do it all, huh? The lead single off her 2023 Christmas album, this upbeat tune became Cher's first song on the Billboard Hot 100 in 22 years. We're sure it'll make another resurgence this year, too.
Another hit from Sia's Everyday Is Christmas album, "Santa's Coming for Us" is a modern, upbeat take on the classic, "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town."
What do you get when you combine a singer/songwriter with a long, illustrious career with a folksy, young British performer? One heck of a Christmas song!
RELATED: Top Christmas Songs of All Time for the Greatest Holiday Playlist
Even rock bands enjoy getting down to a classic Christmas song—although as the name of the song indicates, this clearly isn't another stereotypical Christmas tune.
Kacey extends beyond her country roots, going for an old-school, retro twang that makes this song stand out from a sea of others.
Not only do Sam Smith's beautiful lyrics remind us to embrace the Christmas season, but they also serve as a reminder that the end of the year is near and is yet another opportunity to reflect on the previous twelve months.
Katy's cozy Christmas tune focuses on all the things that actually make the season warm and bright. It's a great reminder to enjoy the holidays instead of stressing over a long to-do list.
As part of John Legend's first Christmas album, A Legendary Christmas, this 2018 original song credits singer Meghan Trainor as one of its writers. The lyrics focus on valuing time with loved ones rather than focusing on what's in the stocking or under the tree.
Written back in 2008, in the same year she dropped her first album, The Fame, Lady Gaga put a unique spin on her Christmas recording with more adult-only lyrics and innuendos.
Inspired by her childhood growing up on a Christmas tree farm (yes, really!), this festive track from Taylor Swift is filled with all the holiday magic you'll ever need this season.
Kate (she/her) is the associate editor of The Pioneer Woman Magazine. She writes features, commerce, and travel content. Kate brings nearly five years of home, food, and lifestyle experience to the role, including time as editorial assistant at Good Housekeeping. Her bylines have appeared in Woman’s Day, Food Network Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, Modern Farmhouse Style, Dream Kitchens & Baths, and more. When she’s not writing, Kate can be found lazing in the park with a sudoku in hand.
Lilli (she/her) is an editorial intern at Good Housekeeping and a senior undergraduate student at Syracuse University majoring in magazine, news and digital journalism. When she’s not looking into the latest news and trends, she’s seeking her new favorite ice cream flavor or dream travel destination. She has previously covered news at The Daily Orange and The Evening Sun and lifestyle content at The Fit Magazine and Jerk Magazine.
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