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100 Best Christmas Songs to Add to Your Festive Playlist This Year

Get ready to have these stuck in your head all season long!

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best christmas songs 2023

Get ready, because you're about to enter a time when Christmas music finds a way into every square inch of your life! Yep, you'll hear some festive tunes on the overhead while you're doing your Christmas gift shopping, on the car radio while you're driving to work, and on TV while you're in the kitchen whipping up some sweet Christmas cookies. Don't hide from it, just embrace it! Here's a list of the best Christmas songs you should hope to hear this season.

Whether you love country Christmas songs or prefer more modern Christmas songs, there's room for all types of music when it comes to the holidays. There are also plenty of traditional Christmas songs to choose from—including Ree Drummond's favorites, "O Holy Night" and "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," which never get old. They're perfect for anyone who prefers classic Christmas movies over anything else! There are also pop hits and fun covers from artists like Michael Bublé, Mariah Carey, and John Legend to add to your list. And of course you'll find plenty of cute, funny Christmas songs for kids like "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Frosty the Snowman." These song lyrics might even make great Christmas quotes or Christmas captions for your greeting cards and Instagram posts!

Every single one of these jolly Christmas carols will help get you in the holiday spirit. It's our gift to you!

1

"Pretty Paper" by Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson

Everyone knows that Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson are the ultimate duo! They come together for what feels like the millionth time for this sweet Christmas melody—but we're definitely not complaining—in fact, we couldn't be more grateful!

2

"Tennessee Christmas" by Amy Grant

There's Christmas, then there's a Tennessee Christmas. Amy Grant sings about the beautiful mountainous scenery that may not be covered in large amounts of snow, but is magical nonetheless. Anyone else booking a ticket to the Volunteer State after listening to this one?

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3

"'Zat You, Santa Claus?" by Louis Armstrong

We sure hope Santa gave Louis Armstrong some extra presents after he wrote this jazzy tune for him! The lyrics and soulful melody will make it hard for you to want to stay seated.

4

"Dominick the Donkey" by Lou Monte

Okay, as cheesy as this one is, it's almost impossible to not belt out those "la la las," when the song gets there. We're sure kids (and adults with young spirits) will be happy to hear this one at any point in the holiday season.

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5

"Where Are You Christmas" by Faith Hill

No holiday is complete without watching Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! One watch will have you replaying this hit by Faith Hill every free minute in your day.

6

"Mistletoe and Wine" by Cliff Richard

"Dreams of Santa, dreams of snow. Fingers numb, faces aglow." Ah, just those lyrics alone are enough to make us feel the spirit! All we need is a mistletoe, a glass of wine, and we're pretty much set!

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7

"Merry Christmas Strait to You" by George Strait

The holidays are obviously supposed to be a cheerful time, but that's not necessarily the case for everyone. If you find yourself feeling a bit blue come Christmastime, this upbeat song by George Strait will help you feel a little less alone and hopefully raise your spirits!

8

"My Christmas Tree" by The Temptations

No matter how many presents you wake up to under the Christmas tree, the number won't matter as long as you have those you love around you! We're adding this to our playlist for when we need that reminder.

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9

"Step Into Christmas" by Elton John

We're *so* ready to step into Christmas with the biggest smiles on our faces! It's all made a little better now that we know that we have Elton John egging us on.

10

"Country Christmas" by Loretta Lynn

There's nothing like a good ol' country Christmas! We can already envision the popcorn decorations on the tree, and the talented members of our family bringing out every string instrument they own!

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11

"Mary, Did You Know" by Mary J. Blige

Everyone knows this classic, but hearing Mary J. Blige sing it for the first time is an experience that shouldn't be taken for granted! The words sound extra meaningful coming from her soothing voice.

12

"Joy to the World" by Aretha Franklin

Thank you, Aretha Franklin, for blessing the world with your take on the this iconic holiday tune! It's the only version we want to play this Christmas.

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13

"Little Drummer Boy" by Carrie Underwood

The duet we didn't know we needed! 🥹 Carrie Underwood and young Isaiah Fisher sound amazing (and adorable!) together as they sing a number we're all familiar with.

14

"Do You Hear What I Hear?" by Whitney Houston

Do you hear what we hear? It's the sound of Whitney Houston's angelic, powerhouse of a voice! We don't expect to sound as good as her when we belt this out, but we'll sure have fun doing it!

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15

"Must Be Santa" by Bob Dylan

We've never wanted to learn how to play an accordion more than after hearing Bob Dylan's catchy song. Does anyone know where we can take lessons?

16

"Somewhere in My Memory" by John Williams

Anyone who has seen Home Alone will recognize this one immediately. Ah, we're already feeling overwhelmed with nostalgia!

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17

"DJ Play a Christmas Song" by Cher

Leave it to Cher to deliver the most pop-sounding, eccentric Christmas song! Hey, we'll never say no to a little dance party, especially around the holidays!

18

"Someday at Christmas" by Stevie Wonder and Andra Day

Whoever decided that Stevie Wonder and Andra Day should sing a Christmas duet together obviously wanted to see us cry! Happy, jolly tears, of course!

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19

"My Grown-Up Christmas List" by Natalie Cole

You're never too old to make a Christmas list! Natalie Cole brings adults everywhere to a halt, hitting them right in the heart with these all-too-relatable lyrics.

20

"Little Saint Nick" by The Beach Boys

It must be snowing on the beach, because The Beach Boys have us feeling festive and groovy! "Little Saint Nick" is reimagined with an iconic boy-band energy, and we're here for it.

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Erin Cavoto is the Editorial Assistant at ThePioneerWoman.com, covering food, holidays, home decor, and more.

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