Key Highlights:
- Sir Elton John and Irish singer CMAT have launched an early bid for Christmas No. 1 with a new duet version of his 1973 classic “Step Into Christmas,” available via Amazon Music.
- The revamped holiday track faces fierce competition from festive staples and fresh offerings, including Sam Fender’s John Lewis advert cover and Olivia Rodrigo’s holiday release.
- Elton John reflected on his ongoing visual impairment, reiterating his determination and patience as he lives with severe sight loss in both eyes.
Elton John and CMAT Launch Collaborative Holiday Bid
The race for this year’s coveted Christmas No. 1 has kicked off in November as music legend Sir Elton John teams up with Irish singer-songwriter CMAT for an updated rendition of his seasonal hit, “Step Into Christmas.” Originally released in 1973, the beloved single peaked at number seven on the charts last year, maintaining its perennial presence during the holiday period. The brand-new duet, released exclusively on Amazon Music, pairs the 79-year-old icon with the rising pop-country artist to mount an early and aggressive claim for the top of the charts.
Following the platform debut of the track, the “Rocket Man” performer spoke warmly about his creative counterpart, stating that he’s ‘loved CMAT since I first heard her and saw her videos years ago’
. Detailing their shared artistic sensibilities, Elton John noted: “She has this incredible personality and a wicked sense of humour,” the 79-year-old said.
He further elaborated on their shared sonic roots: “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 Reflects on “Dream” Partnership with Music Icon
CMAT, the 30-year-old musician whose real name is Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, promoted the release on Instagram earlier this week by dressing up as the “Tiny Dancer” star. Thompson shared deep personal affection for the British pianist’s discography, describing the collaboration as an almost surreal milestone in her musical journey.
“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,”
Thompson expressed. Addressing the emotional impact of working together, she remarked: “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.”
Looking toward the festive season, she concluded: “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.”
Health Updates: Elton John Discusses Sight Loss
Alongside his ongoing musical endeavors, Elton John previously addressed his significant vision challenges, revealing to Variety last year that his continuing eye troubles have felt ‘devastating’
. Describing the physical hurdles, he admitted: “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.
Despite these profound daily limitations, the performer remains hopeful regarding emerging medical developments. “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,”
he explained. Drawing a parallel to public health fights of the past, he added: “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.”
Why This Matters
Securing the official UK Christmas No. 1 remains one of the music industry’s most high-profile annual sales milestones. Last year, Kylie Minogue took the top spot with her single “XMAS,” outperforming immortal holiday heavyweights like WHAM!’s “Last Christmas,” Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” and Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”
This year’s contest features another packed field. In addition to evergreen classics, Elton John and CMAT will contend with prominent seasonal releases, including Sam Fender’s rendition of “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” featured in the John Lewis Christmas advert, and Olivia Rodrigo’s festive track “take me home (4 christmas).” With streaming platforms like Amazon Music actively funding exclusive holiday material, early campaigns are becoming an essential marketing tactic to drive sustained engagement across December.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the new version of “Step Into Christmas” available?
The collaborative duet between Elton John and CMAT was released through Amazon Music.
Who won the UK Christmas No. 1 chart position last year?
Kylie Minogue claimed the official UK Christmas No. 1 spot in 2025 with her holiday single “XMAS,” leading an official top 10 that included perennial favorites from WHAM!, Mariah Carey, and Brenda Lee.
What other singles are contending for the top festive spot?
In addition to perennial streaming giants, contenders include Sam Fender’s John Lewis advert track “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” and Olivia Rodrigo’s “take me home (4 christmas).”
