MARIAH CAREY MAKES CHART HISTORY WITH LONGEST-RUNNING US NUMBER ONE

Mariah Carey has once again proven why she is widely regarded as one of the most successful artists of all time, after her festive classic All I Want For Christmas Is You officially became the longest-running Number One single in US chart history.

The iconic 1994 track reached an astonishing milestone last week, clocking up its 20th week at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, a record-breaking achievement that comes a remarkable 31 years after the song was first released. The festive favourite has now surpassed every other song in chart history for longevity at Number One, cementing its place as one of the most enduring hits of all time.

With its latest triumph, All I Want For Christmas Is You overtakes the previously joint record-holders Old Town Road by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus and A Bar Song (Tipsy) by Shaboozey. Both tracks enjoyed 19 non-consecutive weeks at Number One, with Old Town Road holding the record outright back in 2019 before being matched in 2024.

Now, Mariah has the crown all to herself, and she’s taking a moment to soak it all in.

When asked by Billboard how it felt to break the historic record, the singer responded with characteristic honesty:

“It’s amazing. Honestly, it really is. I can’t lie.”

For fans of the superstar, the achievement feels like the ultimate validation of what many have long believed, that All I Want For Christmas Is You is far more than just a seasonal novelty. Written by Mariah alongside Walter Afanasieff and released on her 1994 album Merry Christmas, the song has become a cultural phenomenon, returning to the charts every December and introducing new generations to Carey’s unmistakable vocals.

The song’s chart dominance is also deeply symbolic for Mariah, who has previously held, and lost, records at the top of the Hot 100. Back in 1995, her emotional duet with Boyz II Men, One Sweet Day, enjoyed 16 weeks at Number One, making it the longest-running US chart-topper at the time.

That record stood for over two decades before being overtaken by Old Town Road, something Mariah has admitted didn’t exactly sit comfortably with her.

Reflecting on losing the record, she told Billboard:

“It was robbed of me. I was upset. But what are you gonna do?”

Humbly taking back the torch!! 20 weeks at #1… I’m so grateful ❤️ - Credit: instagram.com/mariahcarey

Now, with All I Want For Christmas Is You reclaiming chart supremacy in such spectacular fashion, there’s a sense of poetic justice for the singer. Not only has she reclaimed a historic record, she’s done it with a song that was never initially expected to dominate the charts at all.

When it was first released in the mid-90s, the song didn’t reach Number One due to chart rules at the time, which limited the performance of seasonal tracks. It wasn’t until 2019, following changes to Billboard’s chart methodology and the rise of streaming, that the song finally reached the summit for the first time.

Since then, it has become an annual chart juggernaut, repeatedly returning to Number One during the festive season and steadily building its record-breaking total. Each December, the song surges across streaming platforms, radio playlists and social media, often accompanied by Mariah’s now-iconic declaration that “it’s time” for Christmas.

Beyond the numbers, the achievement highlights Mariah Carey’s lasting influence on pop music. Few artists can boast a career that spans multiple decades while still commanding the charts in such a dominant way. For fans aged 30 and over, many of whom grew up with Mariah’s music as the soundtrack to Christmas, the record feels like a celebration of nostalgia, legacy and enduring star power.

As the festive season continues, it seems almost inevitable that All I Want For Christmas Is You will keep adding to its historic tally. And with Mariah showing no signs of slowing down, one thing is certain, the Queen of Christmas is rewriting the record books, one December at a time.