Christmas just isn't Christmas without all the bells and whistles that come with your favorite holiday tunes. The best part about the music is watching your favorite artists perform at year-end holiday events. Back in the day, these performances really set the mood. Check out the amazing vocals from 17 classic performances in a few traditional favorites and holiday medleys.
1. Mariah Carey, "Joy to the World"
Indisputably the Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey changed the Christmas album game back in 1994 with her fourth studio album, Merry Christmas. Globally we recognize “All I Want for Christmas” year after year but she tore down the church with her rendition of “Joy to the World.”
2. Boyz II Men featuring JoJo, "Let it Snow"
At the 2016 Disney Holiday Celebration, Boyz II Men added a twist to their classic Christmas hit by featuring the soulful songstress JoJo. It's the Christmas remix we didn't know we needed until now.
3. Whitney Houston, "Do You Hear What I Hear?"
Whitney Houston affectionately known as "The Voice" was a gift that kept on giving even after her untimely death. While performing this holiday classic, she belts out the lyrics, “with a voice as big as the sea,” not realizing how fitting it was to her personal story. Rest in peace, Nippy.
4. Christina Aguilera and Brian McKnight, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
Growing up in the early 00's, TRL used to be the place to see/hear your favorite pop stars perform their latest hits. Who would've imagined these two singers coming together and singing their faces off with this intimate performance of Have Yourself Merry Little Christmas?
5. Destiny’s Child, "Silent Night"
During a visit to The Oprah Show, Destiny's Child performed their own version of 'Silent Night' filled with harmonies, runs, an acoustic guitar and Beyoncé singing her face off as only the queen can.
6. Tori Kelly, "O’ Holy Night"
It was a cold rainy night at the 2016 Rockefeller Tree lighting ceremony in NYC until the angelic Tori hit the stage and warmed everyone’s hearts with her cover of this beloved Christmas hymn. Don’t you want to just sit her on top of your tree and listen to her sing all day?
7. Usher, "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"
Usher won over the hearts of President Obama, First Lady and the entire district with this mesmerizing performance at the annual televised ‘Christmas in Washington’ special back in 2009.
8. Mary J Blige, "This Christmas"
From her 2013 Christmas album, A Mary Christmas, Mary adds her own flavor to this Christmas classic during a live session at the Wall Street Journal.
9. Andra Day, "Someday At Christmas"
In 1967, Stevie Wonder released his Christmas album under Motown. Nearly 5 decades later, he and his mentee, Andra Day, gave us a nostalgic Apple Christmas commercial reminding us that Christmas is a gift to all.
10. Jamie Foxx, "The Christmas Song"
Jamie Foxx is a force in Hollywood that is deeply underrated. From his acting to his singing, there is nothing Jamie cannot do. Back in 2008, Jamie took his vocals and his piano to Rockefeller Center where he woo’d the crowd with his version of the Christmas classic.
11. The Braxtons, "Mary Did You Know?"
Toni and Tamar Braxton and the breakout stars of the family but we know that ALL the Braxton sisters can SANG? During a performance on The Real, the sisters reminded us that they are a force individually and collectively.
12. Whitney Houston featuring The Georgia Mass Choir, "I Love the Lord/Joy to The World"
At the 50th celebration of Ebony Magazine, Whitney performed two singles from her smash Christmas movie, The Preacher’s Wife. If you don’t start shouting COGIC style when the choir starts singing, we cannot be friends.
13. The Temptations, "Merry Motown Christmas"
The Temptations performs a medley of Christmas songs such as “White Christmas” and “Silent Night” before bringing Motown’s hit maker, Smokey Robinson, to sing “The Christmas Song” altogether in shiny suits that would make Puff Daddy and the entire Bad Boy family envious.
14. *NSYNC, "Under the Tree"
We're not going to pretend like *NSYNC's Home for the Christmas album wasn't fire. In this throwback Disney Christmas special, the boyband truly brought the vocals in this original holiday love song. JC came all the way through!
15. Jennifer Hudson, "O’ Holy Night"
When has J-Hud ever failed to deliver? As usual, she gives us that warm and fuzzy feeling with her incomparable vocals.
16. Brian McKnight, "I’ll Be Home for Christmas"
There is just something about Brian McKnight and a piano. In this particular performance, he really lays out his velvet vocals as his fingers beautifully intertwines with the keys on the piano.
17. Yolanda Adams- What Child Is This
Count on Yolanda to take you to church. And that last note..perfection. Need I say more?
