Christmas Eve (Kelly Clarkson song)


"Christmas Eve" is a song by American singer Kelly Clarkson. Written by Clarkson with Jason Halbert, who handled its production, it is a Christmas-themed song about the witnessing the festive joys of the Christmas season, primarily on the night before the holiday itself. Released as a companion track to Clarkson's children's book River Rose and the Magical Christmas, it was later issued as a single by Atlantic Records on November 30, 2017.

Background and release

"Christmas Eve" is a Christmas-themed song written by Clarkson and Jason Halbert, with the latter producing it. Lyrically, it is a song of celebration of the Christmas season. The song was intended to accompany the release of Clarkson's second children's book River Rose and the Magical Christmas — which, unlike its predecessor, features a full original song unrelated to the accompanying material itself. Clarkson wrote the track from the perspective of elves while making preparations for the holiday, while also promulgating it as for a prospective inclusion on her Christmas album Wrapped in Red.
"Christmas Eve" was originally released by Atlantic Records as on October 20, 2017, four days before the release of The Magical Christmas. A live recording of the song was also issued exclusively as a single on the Spotify streaming service on November 30, 2017. Clarkson revealed that she did not intend the record to be a single, but a positive response from the public prompted Atlantic to release it. She remarked, "It's literally so fun to sing and it just kind of puts you in this happy mood that gets you ready for Christmas," and added that "it's cool because it was like a happy accident. It wasn't supposed to even be, like, a big thing."

Reception

Billboards Tatiana Tenreyro observed that the song's bells and a jubilant horn-filled melody captures the magic of the holidays. Entertainment Weekly described it as a joyful and uplifting song that masterfully showcases her voice, accompanied by the sounds of tambourines, drums, and jingle bells.
"Christmas Eve" made its debut chart appearance on Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, where it ascended at number two, becoming her first top two hit since "Wrapped in Red" in 2014. Overseas, it charted on the Billboard Canada AC, Billboard Canada Hot AC, and the national charts of Austria and Germany.

Track listing

Digital download
Digital streaming

Personnel

Credits lifted from Tidal.

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Release history