Holiday music releases are arriving in a rush this November, with a surprisingly broad lineup of artists issuing seasonal EPs, albums and singles well before the usual December sprint. The early wave spans pop, rock, Latin music and even a coffee-brand compilation, suggesting the holiday catalog is expanding beyond the familiar annual staples.
Hilary Duff and Dustin Kensrue Start Early
Hilary Duff opened the season on Oct. 23 with Holiday Things, a five-track EP that arrived just before Halloween. The project includes a new interpretation of a classic Duff track and the original song “I Guess It’s Christmas.” It marks her first holiday release since Santa Claus Lane, which she noted on Instagram had reached its 24th anniversary.
That same day, Thrice frontman Dustin Kensrue released That Spirit of Christmas, his second holiday album. Named after the Ray Charles song, the record mixes two originals with familiar seasonal material and a reworked version of “This Good Night Is Still Everywhere” from his earlier Christmas project.
Thalia Expands a Latin Pop Holiday Album
Thalia followed on Nov. 3 with a deluxe edition of her 2024 holiday album, Navidad Melancólica. The expanded version adds upbeat Latin pop tracks including “Regalo Perfecto” and a cover of “El Burrito Sabanero.” In a statement, Thalia said she was eager to share the new edition with listeners who had embraced the original release.
Starbucks Returns to Holiday Music
On Nov. 4, Starbucks released Holiday Blend, described as the company’s first global holiday album in more than a decade. The seven-track compilation features commissioned songs from Brandi Carlile, Magnus Ferrell, TRÍADA, The Womack Sisters, Leon Thomas and JYT.
Olivia Rodrigo Debuts a Christmas Single
Olivia Rodrigo released her first holiday song, “Take Me Home (4 Christmas),” on Nov. 5. The track draws on New Wave influences, and its music video features Cynthia Nixon. A vinyl edition of the single includes an unreleased B-side titled “Miss This Christmas.”
Alanis Morissette and Sufjan Stevens Offer Full Projects
Alanis Morissette issued her first holiday album, Good Weather for Immaculate Conception, on Nov. 6. The record combines revved-up versions of holiday standards with two originals, “Christmas on the Dancefloor” and “To An Empath at Christmas Time.”
Sufjan Stevens also returned that day with Worst Christmas Ever!, a compilation of holiday covers and originals from across his career. It includes his first new Christmas song in 15 years, “On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better),” which he described in a statement as a prayer about forgiveness.
Tegan and Sara Add Two Acoustic Tracks
Tegan and Sara rounded out the Nov. 6 releases with two acoustic holiday songs, “I Love Christmas” and “A December to Remember.” In a statement, Tegan said the songs were intended both for people who love Christmas and for those who do not.
The cluster of releases suggests that the holiday music calendar now begins well before Thanksgiving, with artists staking claims to seasonal attention across genres and platforms.
