The best new holiday music of 2020: Dolly Parton, Kelly Clarkson, Carly Rae Jepsen, and more

Ruth Kinane
·4 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Virginia Sherwood/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images; Lloyd Bishop/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images; Peter Kramer/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Deck the halls and crank up the speakers! Office holiday parties may be taking place over Zoom this year, but that doesn't mean you can scrimp on the festive playlist.

With Mariah Carey officially giving us the go-ahead to start blasting "All I Want for Christmas," 'tis the season to round out your collection of holiday tunes with a few new additions. This year (as always), stars are gifting us Yuletide bops that'll have you doing a merry little jig or gently weeping into your eggnog — who are we to tell you how to celebrate? There's something for everyone, from Carrie Underwood covers of Christian classics to hard truths from Carly Rae Jepsen, and oh-so-many renditions of "O Holy Night" in between.

Check out your new playlist below.

Goo Goo Dolls, It's Christmas All Over

The rockers' holiday helping includes two original songs that'll never be as good as "Iris," but still offer the Goo-ey Christmas cheese we deserve.

Meghan Trainor, A Very Trainor Christmas

Trainor's flirty, festive floor-fillers will have you bopping at this year's virtual (sigh) holiday parties — with or without eggnog.

Carrie Underwood, My Gift

The country powerhouse covers Christian classics like "O Holy Night," hitting the high note on "Noel" with enough force to shatter any tree ornament.

Dolly Parton, A Holly Dolly Christmas

The icon gifts cozy cuddles with Michael Bublé and flurries of fiddles that'll inspire the merriest of line dances. Howdy, holidays!

Tori Kelly, A Tori Kelly Christmas

Syrupy vocals and sugary lyrics make Kelly's collection as sweetly familiar as one too many candy canes — a lot to stomach, but worth the high.

Leslie Odom Jr., The Christmas Album

The Grammy and Tony Award winner's new holiday offering is stuffed full of traditional faves and newly penned tracks that you'll want to play on repeat nearly as much as "Wait For It." [Insert terrible Aaron Brrrr joke here.]

Andrea Bocelli, Believe (out Nov. 13)

Keep things classy this Christmas with the incomparable dulcet tones of Andre Bocelli. Honestly, with a voice that sweet, we'd Believe just about anything the Italian opera singer sang to us.

Kelly Clarkson, "All I Want For Christmas" (out Nov. 13) and "Under the Mistletoe"

After 2013's most excellent Wrapped in Red, all Yuletide offerings from Miss Clarkson go directly onto the holiday playlist, no questions asked.

JoJo, December Baby

Born on Dec. 5 and with the middle name Noëlle, it's a no-brainer that JoJo's Christmas contribution — comprising five brand-new originals as well as her takes on classics like "Silent Night" and "The Christmas Song" — would be as rewarding as a cup of post-present-wrapping hot buttered rum on Christmas Eve.

Tegan and Sara, "Make You Mine This Season"

The Canadian indie-pop duo's track from Hulu's upcoming Happiest Season will have you imagining a rom-com-esque supercut of an epic holiday dalliance as you listen to it on repeat.

Dan + Shay, "Take Me Home for Christmas"

Add some country to your Christmas with Dan + Shay who are here to implore you to take them home for the holidays and show them round your town. Depending on the temperament of your hometown, could be an appealing offer?

Liam Payne and Dixie D'Amelio, "Naughty List"

The former One Directioner will be receiving a lump of coal this year after Santa spotted him getting too festively frisky under the mistletoe. Really, Liam? On Jesus' birthday!

Jonas Brothers, "I Need You Christmas"

It may not be up there with last year's delightful "Like It's Christmas," but the band of brothers' 2020 soppy ballad feels sadly appropriate for the least fun year in modern memory.

Carly Rae Jepson, "It's Not Christmas Till Somebody Cries"

It's pretty much a bleak universal truth that tears are inevitable during the holidays, but at least Jepsen makes that all-too-familiar festive sentiment into a bop!

Gwen Stefani, "Here This Christmas"

No one wears a red lip like Gwen, so of course her Christmas single is a holiday hit. "Here This Christmas" also serves as the theme for Hallmark Channel's Countdown to Christmas. Let that enhance or diminish your listening as you please.

Little Nas X, "Holiday" (out Nov. 13)

The video for the rapper's Xmas beat comes complete with this Back to the Future warning from Marty McFly: "Whatever you do, Nas, don't go to 2020." With the inclusion of that unquestionable wisdom, we see a future where this song makes it onto the nice list.

Related content: