Legendary Artist Nat King Cole Achieves Top Position on Chart Posthumously, Decades After Demise
Nat King Cole, with his varying titles on the Billboard charts as Nat King Cole or Nat "King" Cole, has been a prominent figure on musical rankings for numerous decades. Throughout his brief lifetime, the artist made history with an array of significant hits and revolutionized America's perception of what a star could look and sound like. To this day, he is iconically regarded as a legend, yet his legacy continues to evolve.
This week, Cole secures a fresh No. 1 hit in the United States. However, his estate didn't introduce any new material that ascended to the summit on any Billboard ranking. Instead, one of his renowned releases climbed to the top spot on a chart that was presented after his demise.
"The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)" soars from No. 5 to No. 1 on the latest edition of the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart, achieving its first-ever No. 1 position. This holiday favorite marks Cole's only success on Billboard's roster of best-selling tracks categorized as hip-hop, rap, or R&B.
The timeless classic is one of only two tracks that Cole has managed to push to the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales ranking, both appearing decades after his passing, as digital tune sales did not exist during his musical career. Another holiday classic, "O Holy Night," has only managed to spend a couple of weeks somewhere on the list in the past. Previously, his version reached No. 27, peaking at that position back in 2010.
"The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)" also achieved a new high point on a different Billboard chart this week. The increase in digital sales of the tune is noteworthy, as the song has returned to the all-style Digital Song Sales ranking, now back at No. 9. This placement assists Cole in securing his first top 10 position on the list, as Luminate reports that nearly 2,900 copies of the standard were sold in the U.S. during the last tracking period.
Cole dominates more than just one sales chart this week. "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)" continues to reign at No. 1 on several other rankings, such as the R&B Streaming Songs and R&B Digital Song Sales charts, although it was not a new achievement on those lists.
"The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)" currently ranks within the top 10 on almost every chart it appears on. However, its reign is likely to be limited, as Christmas-related interest is about to wane. Cole's beloved composition remains a staple within the uppermost echelons on four additional rankings, which speaks to its enduring popularity.
Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)" continues its dominance on the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales charts, rising from No. 5 to a No. 1 position, marking its first time achieving this milestone on the chart. This holiday classic is one of only two tracks by Cole to appear on the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart, both happening posthumously.
Nat King Cole's timeless rendition of "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)" returned to the all-style Digital Song Sales chart this week, ascending to No. 9, marking his first top 10 position on the list. The significant increase in digital sales of the tune has contributed to this achievement, with nearly 2,900 copies sold in the U.S. during the last tracking period.
The Nat King Cole-led version of "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)" holds the No. 1 spot on the R&B Streaming Songs and R&B Digital Song Sales charts, maintaining its prominence on these charts. Although this was not a new achievement on these lists, the song's enduring popularity is evident as it continues to perform well.
Cole's "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)" currently ranks within the top 10 on almost every chart it appears on, including the overall Digital Song Sales chart. However, its reign may be short-lived, with the decrease in Christmas-related interest expected to impact the chart positions.
The iconic Nat King Cole's beloved holiday classic, "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)," remains a staple within the uppermost echelons on four additional rankings, further solidifying its position as a holiday standard and a testament to Cole's lasting impact on the music industry.
