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Sir Elton John is officially Stepping Into Christmas with a reimagined version of his hit holiday classic.
The singer, 79, has teamed up with Irish hitmaker CMAT for a lively rock ‘n’ roll version of his single Step Into Christmas — 53 years after its release.
The 1973 single previously peaked at number seven on the UK singles chart in 2025, and will now enter the race for Christmas number one as this year’s Amazon Music Original Christmas song.
Last year’s single, XMAS by Australian singer Kylie Minogue, became the 2025 UK Christmas number one single.
Sir Elton said: ‘I’ve loved CMAT since I first heard her and saw her videos years ago.
‘She has this incredible personality and a wicked sense of humour.’
EGOT-winning Sir Elton added: ‘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, real name is Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, said: ‘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.’
She added: ‘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.’
UK Christmas number ones through the years
2000 – Bob the Builder – Can We Fix It?
2001 – Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman – Somethin’ Stupid
2002 – Girls Aloud – Sound of the Underground
2003 – Michael Andrews and Gary Jules – Mad World
2004 – Band Aid 20 – Do They Know It’s Christmas?
2005 – Shayne Ward – That’s My Goal
2006 – Leona Lewis – A Moment Like This
2007 – Leon Jackson – When You Believe
2008 – Alexandra Burke – Hallelujah
2009 – Rage Against the Machine – Killing in the Name
2010 – Matt Cardle – When We Collide
2011 – Military Wives ft. Gareth Gates – Wherever You Are
2012 – The Justice Collective – He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother
2013 – Sam Bailey – Skyscraper
2014 – Ben Haenow – Something I Need
2015 – Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir – A Bridge over You
2016 – Clean Bandit ft. Sean Paul and Anne-Marie – Rockabye
2017– Ed Sheeran – Perfect
2018, 2019, 2020 – LadBaby – We Built This City, I Love Sausage Rolls, Don’t Stop Me Eatin
2021 – LadBaby ft. Ed Sheeran and Elton John – Sausage Rolls for Everyone
2022 – LadBaby – Food Aid
2023, 2024 – Wham! – Last Christmas
2025 – Kylie Minogue – XMAS
CMAT, 30, won the best album gong at this year’s Ivor Novello Awards for her third LP Euro-Country, and is best known for songs such as Take A Sexy Picture Of Me, When A Good Man Cries and Running/Planning.
In 2009, Step Into Christmas, which was written by Sir Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin, was listed as the ninth-most-played Christmas song of the 2000s in the UK.
In 2024, the music video for the song was remade as a behind-the-scenes reimagining starring model Cara Delevingne as Sir Elton, wearing an outfit identical to the one worn by him in the original video.
The duo said they had wanted to work together and thought of the idea while at Glastonbury Festival in 2024.
Step Into Christmas will be available to stream exclusively on Amazon Music from today.
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