Mariah Carey's ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You' Is Celebrated as the Longest Lasting No. 1 Song Ever at 22 Weeks

Ever since the Billboard Hot 100 was founded, even hitting No. 1 on the chart has been considered a mammoth achievement. That is why it is incredible that an iconic 1994 hit song has managed to stay on top of the chart for months in total. The even more amazing fact is that Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" took 25 years to reach No.1 at all and 31 years to become the longest-running chart-topper in history.

Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' Has Been No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for a Record-Breaking 22 Weeks

On May 18, 2026, Billboard published an article that listed the "longest-leading Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s" in the history of the chart, which was created in 1958. The outlet revealed that Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" is the record holder with a total of 22 weeks at No. 1 accumulated over several years. The track originally became the record holder when it topped the chart for its 20th week at No. 1 in December 2025, 31 years after the song was first released.

According to Billboard's article, "All I Want for Christmas Is You" has hit No. 1 during every holiday season since December 2019. That means that if the trend holds, the song's lead over the second-longest-lasting chart topper could continue to widen in the years to come. That is especially remarkable since at 22 weeks, the track has already been the top song for roughly five months in total.

No. 1… But Only After 25 Years

Easily one of the most iconic holiday songs ever, many people would likely think Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" has been a chart topper for decades now. After all, the song was originally released in November 1994 as part of Carey's holiday-themed album Merry Christmas. The song has also long had a place in pop culture, as evidenced by things like its memorable inclusion in the 2009 film Love Actually.

Amazingly enough, the truth is that "All I Want for Christmas Is You" never reached No. 1 until December 21, 2019, more than 25 years after it was released. Not only that, Billboard's article about Mariah Carey's top charting songs notes that it took years for the song to even chart on the Hot 100 at all. The now-iconic track debuted on the chart on January 8, 2000.

The Longest-Leading Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s:

• Mariah Carey - "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (22 weeks)
• Shaboozey - "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" (19 weeks)
• Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus - "Old Town Road" (19 weeks)
• Morgan Wallen - "Last Night" (16 weeks)
• Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber - "Despacito" (16 weeks)
• Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men - "One Sweet Day" (16 weeks)
• Harry Styles - "As It Was" (15 weeks)
• Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars - "Uptown Funk!" (14 weeks)
• The Black Eyed Peas - "I Gotta Feeling" (14 weeks)
• Mariah Carey - "We Belong Together" (14 weeks)
• Elton John - "Candle in the Wind 1997"/"Something About the Way You Look Tonight" (14 weeks)
• Los Del Rio - "Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)" (14 weeks)
• Boyz II Men - "I'll Make Love to You" (14 weeks)
• Whitney Houston - "I Will Always Love You" (14 weeks)

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 5:26 AM.