Kylie Minogue edges ahead in tightly contested Christmas chart race

Kylie Minogue is currently leading a closely fought battle for this year’s Christmas number one, according to the Official Charts Company. Her festive track XMAS has taken an early advantage, sitting around seven thousand chart units ahead of its nearest rival. The competition remains intense, with two familiar contenders close behind and momentum still shifting as the final days before Christmas approach.

Wham and a charity supergroup close behind

In second place is Wham’s Last Christmas, a song that has become almost synonymous with the festive season and has topped the UK charts for the past two years. Despite its enduring popularity, it is currently trailing Kylie’s new release. Just behind Wham, separated by only a couple of hundred sales, is Lullaby by Together For Palestine. The charity single brings together a wide range of artists including Dan Smith from Bastille, Celeste, Neneh Cherry, Nadine Shah, Brian Eno, and Leigh Anne Pinnock from Little Mix. Its strong performance reflects both public support for the cause and the appeal of a rare collaborative release.

A potential milestone in Kylie’s career

If XMAS holds on to its lead, it would mark a significant moment for Kylie Minogue. The song would become her first UK number one single since Slow reached the top spot in 2003. Speaking about the possibility, Kylie admitted the achievement would be deeply emotional. She described the year as an extraordinary one and said a Christmas number one would feel like the perfect ending to an already memorable period in her career.

A festive performance and a clever chart advantage

Kylie recently performed XMAS on Strictly Come Dancing, complete with a playful dance routine spelling out the letters of the song’s title. The choreography has been likened to a festive version of YMCA, adding to the track’s visual appeal and shareability. Beyond performance, the song benefits from a strategic edge in the charts. XMAS is an Amazon exclusive, meaning it is heavily featured on playlists played through Amazon smart speakers. Every one of those streams counts toward chart totals, giving the track valuable exposure during peak listening moments in homes across the country.

A song years in the making

XMAS is not just a seasonal throwaway. It is a newly completed track originally recorded during sessions for Kylie Christmas, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary. The album recently topped the UK album charts, helping to reignite interest in Kylie’s festive catalogue. Kylie revealed that XMAS had lingered in her mind for years after failing to make the original album cut. She said it always bothered her that the song was left unfinished and joked that she worried someone else might release a song with the same title first.

According to Kylie, it is the only song she has carried with her creatively for such a long time. Finally completing and releasing it has brought a sense of closure as well as renewed excitement.

A familiar festive near miss

This is not the first time Kylie has been close to claiming the Christmas number one. Back in 1988, her duet Especially For You narrowly missed out on the top spot, finishing behind Cliff Richard’s Mistletoe and Wine. That long history with the festive charts adds extra resonance to this year’s race.

Christmas plans away from the spotlight

Regardless of the chart outcome, Kylie will not be in the UK to celebrate. She has confirmed she is heading home to spend Christmas with her family. Her plans are low key and personal, involving family time, watching cricket, and tackling a jigsaw puzzle. Whether or not she secures the festive number one, the singer appears content to enjoy a quiet holiday after a standout year.