Elton John and CMAT make super early bid for Xmas No.1 with iconic re-release of Step Into Christmas
The fight for this year’s Christmas No.1 is already underway with Elton John and CMAT making a very early claim to the coveted title – it’s only November guys!
'Step Into Christmas' is a new duet of the 1973 single which peaked at number seven on the charts last year.
Kylie Minogue’s ‘XMAS’ is the one to beat after it toppled the chart position in 2025, beating the likes of WHAM!’s ‘Last Christmas’ and Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’.
Following Amazon Music’s release of the new track, the ‘Rocket Man’ singer admits that he’s ‘loved CMAT since I first heard her and saw her videos years ago’.
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“She has this incredible personality and a wicked sense of humour,” the 79-year-old said.
“You can tell she has rock and roll and country, and Americana, at the heart of what she does – we’re kindred spirits in so many ways, and that’s why I was so thrilled with the idea of us collaborating on Step Into Christmas. She’s done an amazing job.”
CMAT, whose real name is Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, added: “When I listen to the music of Elton John, I am seven years old in the back of my mam’s car. It doesn’t matter how old or famous I become – whenever I listen to Elton John I will always be seven years old in the back of my mam’s car.
“Reconciling this feeling with the reality of getting to work with the man in question has been confusing to say the least, but the greatest joy of my life.
“Christmas is my absolute favourite thing in the world, second maybe only to Elton John. I would like to invite the whole world to step into Christmas with us and make your yuletide dreams come true.”
CMAT, 30, teased the single on Instagram this week, dressing up as the ‘Tiny Dancer’ star.
Along with Kylie, the pair face fierce competition from Sam Fender’s new John Lewis Christmas advert song ‘You Can't Always Get What You Want’.
There’s also Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘take me home (4 christmas), as well as the constant classics that pop up every year.
'I haven’t been able to see anything'
Elton confessed to Variety last year that his ongoing sight issues have felt ‘devastating’.
“Because I lost my right eye and my left eye’s not so good, the last 15 months have been challenging for me because I haven’t been able to see anything, watch anything, read anything,” he explained.
“I’ve had the most incredible life, and there is hope. I’ve just gotta be patient that someday science will help me with this one. Once they help me with this one, I’ll be fine.
“It’s exactly like the AIDS situation. You mustn’t give up hope, you must be stoic, you must be strong and you must always try and batter the door down to try and improve things.”
UK Christmas Top 10 – 2025 (Official Final Chart)
1. Kylie Minogue – 'XMAS'
2. WHAM! – 'Last Christmas'
3. Mariah Carey – 'All I Want for Christmas Is You'
4. Brenda Lee – 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree'
5. Together For Palestine – 'Lullaby'
6. The Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl – 'Fairytale of New York'
7. Dave & Tems – 'Raindance'
8. Kelly Clarkson – 'Underneath the Tree'
9. Elton John – 'Step Into Christmas'
10. Bobby Helms – 'Jingle Bell Rock'
Topics: Elton John, Music, Christmas, Celebrity
Anish Vij
