Kelly Clarkson’s “Underneath the Tree” just surged to its highest-ever rank on Billboard’s Holiday 100, confirming her status as a modern Christmas music icon and shaking up a chart long dominated by legendary seasonal hits.
Kelly Clarkson has officially planted her flag among Christmas royalty. Her 2013 single “Underneath the Tree” has shot to No. 6 on the Billboard Holiday 100 for the week of November 23–29, 2025, marking its highest-ever position after spending over a decade as a festive mainstay.
This isn’t just another chart update; it’s a milestone that cements Clarkson’s place in the pantheon of great holiday artists. After 64 total weeks on the chart, this surge reflects both renewed fan enthusiasm and the enduring cross-generational appeal of her music.
How “Underneath the Tree” Became a Modern Holiday Classic
Released at the peak of her post-American Idol fame, “Underneath the Tree” quickly won fans over thanks to Clarkson’s powerhouse vocals and infectious arrangement. Critics and listeners alike drew comparisons to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” with many hailing Clarkson’s entry as the 21st century’s must-have Christmas anthem.
- First appeared on “Wrapped in Red” (2013), which became an annual holiday bestseller
- Earned year-after-year airplay on pop and adult contemporary radio
- Continues to see growth in streams and digital sales each season
This streak reflects a broader trend: fans—old and new—are gravitating toward contemporary pop holiday tracks alongside traditional classics.
Clarkson’s Holiday Chart Resume: Bringing Friends and Icons into the Celebration
“Underneath the Tree” isn’t Clarkson’s only chart weapon. Her holiday catalog is robust, featuring popular duets and solo hits that helped her become a festive playlist mainstay.
- “Santa, Can’t You Hear Me” (2021) with Ariana Grande – Trending at No. 49 this week
- “Christmas Isn’t Canceled (Just You)” – A modern anthem for the post-breakup holiday mood
- “Under the Mistletoe” with Brett Eldredge – Merging country warmth with pop sparkle
- A soulful “Silent Night” with Reba McEntire and Trisha Yearwood – Peaked at No. 16 in 2014
- “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” – Briefly appeared on the Holiday 100 in 2011
This roster of chart appearances showcases Clarkson’s knack for delivering both solo power ballads and spirited collaborations—something fans celebrate as a “Clarkson Christmas Universe.”
Why This Chart Move Matters Now
The annual climb of “Underneath the Tree” reflects both the nostalgia and freshness fans crave. As the holidays approach, streaming and airplay habits reveal a desire for upbeat, contemporary classics—giving Clarkson a unique position among living holiday hitmakers.
This week’s Holiday 100 tells the whole story: alongside “Underneath the Tree,” pop powerhouses like Michael Bublé, the Jonas Brothers, and the forever-dominant Mariah Carey are battling it out for the soundtrack of the season. Classics like WHAM!’s “Last Christmas” and Brenda Lee‘s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” remain in the top three, emphasizing that holiday music’s biggest stage is now a mix of nostalgia and the new.
The Billboard Holiday 100 ranks seasonal songs “of all eras via the same formula used for the Billboard Hot 100, blending streaming, airplay and sales data.” The ability of a decade-old track like “Underneath the Tree” to climb higher each year suggests that Clarkson’s appeal is generational, not just a product of Idol-era fandom.
What Fans Want: The Case for a Clarkson Holiday TV Special
Season after season, Clarkson’s core fans rally around dreams of a televised spectacular bringing her hits together in a single production—an idea that trends on social media every December. With her chart momentum now at an all-time high, that possibility carries more buzz than ever and would no doubt electrify streaming numbers and pop culture chatter alike.
The Takeaway: Kelly Clarkson Isn’t Just Part of the Christmas Canon—She’s Redefining It
From reality show star to holiday chart fixture, Kelly Clarkson has proven that a modern classic can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with legends who’ve dominated Christmas playlists for generations. Fans can expect “Underneath the Tree” to return—and possibly rise—even higher in the seasons to come.
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