Jason Kelce Dethrones Mariah Carey On Christmas Song Charts

Since 2022, Jason has been teaming up with Eagles teammates Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson to release annual Christmas albums under the group name The Philly Specials. But his latest holiday song with Stevie Nicks has reached new heights as it is currently charting higher than Mariah Carey’s iconic “All I Want For Christmas Is You.”

With this chart-topping achievement, Jason Kelce has humorously declared himself the “Queen of Christmas” for the season.

Their new album, “A Philly Special Christmas Party,” is set to drop on November 22, following last year’s “A Philly Special Christmas Special” and their debut album, “A Philly Special Christmas,” in 2022.

One of the standout tracks from this year’s album, “Maybe This Christmas,” dropped on streaming platforms last Friday. The duet between Jason and Nicks captures the holiday spirit, with the two singers exchanging verses about their hopes for love and forgiveness this holiday season.

“It feels so good,” the former NFL star said about topping the charts, especially considering Mariah’s song has been a holiday staple for decades.

Despite the success, Jason admits the song has likely peaked early in the season, and he doesn’t expect it to hold the top spot for long. “We kind of caught it on the Christmas downslide, not too many people are listening to Christmas music ,” he said. “So we jumped up in there.”

“No song with my singing should be number 1 in any category,” he later joked.

Jason’s brother, Travis Kelce, chimed in during a recent episode of “The New Heights” podcast, teasing Jason about the unexpected feat. “Somehow, Jason and The Philly Specials are beating Mariah at her own game,” Travis joked. Jason added that he was sure fans are tuning in more for Stevie Nicks than for him, as she’s the true star of the duet.

As fans know, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” has long dominated the holiday charts, breaking records year after year, including setting a Spotify record last Christmas Eve for most streams.

All profits from the album will go toward supporting local Philadelphia charities, making their festive tunes even more impactful.

The former Philadelphia Eagles center also reflected on his time working with the legendary Stevie Nicks on their holiday duet, calling the experience “incredible.”

When on his podcast, Jason expressed his admiration for Nicks, noting how special it was to collaborate with such an iconic artist on a song that is already resonating with listeners this holiday season.

“I mean, obviously I’m still in awe of the fact that that actually happened,” Jason said. “There’s no percent chance that any song that I am in should be streaming No. 1 on any service, in any genre.”

In December 2022, Jason Kelce teamed up with fellow Eagles offensive linemen Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata to release A Philly Special Christmas, an album featuring classic holiday songs. The album was a hit, raising over $250,000 for Philadelphia’s Children’s Crisis Treatment Center.

Encouraged by its success, the trio followed up in December 2023 with A Philly Special Christmas Special, which included guest appearances by artists like Patti LaBelle and Amos Lee, along with contributions from Eagles players and staff. Proceeds from the sequel supported both the Children’s Crisis Treatment Center and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Originally released in 1994, the hit song peaked at number six on the Billboard charts and reached number two in both the UK and Japan. However, with the rise of streaming services, the track’s popularity has skyrocketed, making it one of the best-selling digital singles in history.

“I was working on it by myself … on this little Casio keyboard and writing down words and thinking about, ‘What do I think of at Christmas? What do I love? What do I want? What do I dream of?'” Carey said as she celebrated the song’s 30th anniversary. “And that’s what started it.”

With a staggering 16 million copies sold globally, it claimed the No. 1 spot in over 30 countries during the weeks leading up to Christmas, solidifying its place as a holiday staple. It has become an essential tune for offices, malls, and holiday parties, continuing to spread festive cheer around the world.

“My goal was to do something timeless, so it didn’t feel like the ’90s, which is when I wrote it,” she added.