A recent roundup published by Billboard — titled “The 18 Best 21st Century Covers of Christmas Songs, Ranked: Critic’s Picks” — spotlights modern reinterpretations of holiday classics that critics argue have earned a place among the season’s memorable new sounds.
The list includes fresh takes on beloved holiday staples by contemporary artists, marking a shift in how Christmas songs are being re-imagined for the 21st century.
The selection arrives at a time when modern holiday music continues to thrive — recent lists of best Christmas tunes of the century feature new songs and covers alike alongside original compositions.
In parallel, another chart from the UK, maintained by Official Charts Company, confirms that some modern Christmas songs (though not necessarily covers) have become enduring favorites: for example, One More Sleep by Leona Lewis is now the most-streamed British Christmas song of the 21st century.
Meanwhile, the renewed visibility of covers and modern holiday releases underlines evolving listener tastes — appreciative both of nostalgia and fresh reinterpretation, a blend of classic holiday spirit with contemporary musical sensibilities.
