Music MInute - Feliz Navidad is America’s unstoppable Christmas anthem according to search data

 New Google search data analyzed by music platform Chordify shows a nostalgic shake-up in America’s festive favourites.

While Brenda Lee’s Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree reclaimed the top spot across ten states, José Feliciano’s bilingual classic Feliz Navidad became the fastest-growing Christmas search of the year, surging in popularity from the Southwest to New York thanks to TikTok trends and cross-cultural holiday playlists.

Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You -  long considered the unshakable queen of Christmas pop, still dominated in California, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, but the data hints that 2024’s holiday mood leaned more nostalgic and inclusive than ever before.

“This year’s Christmas charts show how streaming culture and social media have blurred the borders between genres, languages, and generations,” said Gijs Bekenkamp, CMO at Chordify. “We’re seeing Gen Z discovering classic hits their grandparents grew up with — and giving them new life on TikTok.”

Key Findings:

• Brenda Lee reigns supreme – Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree was the most-searched Christmas song in 10 states, including Alabama, Maryland, and Tennessee.
  

• “Feliz Navidad” goes viral – Feliciano’s 1970 hit topped searches in five regions, including Florida, New York, and Texas, making it 2024’s biggest Christmas climber.
  

• Wham! nostalgia spikes – Last Christmas took the crown in seven northern states, suggesting a continued love for ‘80s synth-pop classics.
  

• Mariah still the modern queen – All I Want for Christmas Is You led searches in six states, but its dominance dipped compared to previous years.
  

• Regional favourites shine – Hawaii’s Mele Kalikimaka and Louisiana’s love for Ariana Grande’s Santa Tell Me show how local culture shapes seasonal soundtracks.
  

The findings reflect how social media trends and playlists now drive festive discovery more than traditional radio airplay — with nostalgic hits reborn through new generations of creators and listeners.

Methodology  

Chordify analysed Google search data for December, comparing the most-searched Christmas songs across all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C.

Search data was gathered using Google Trends, Ahrefs, Glimpse, and Google Search Console, focusing on search volume and year-on-year growth for Christmas-related song queries. Data was normalised to account for state population differences and streaming trends to identify each region’s leading festive favourite.