Mariah Carey has secured a significant financial and legal victory just before Christmas, after a long-running lawsuit concerning her iconic festive hit was thrown out of court.
Songwriters Ordered to Pay Mariah After Failed Claim
The legal saga began in 2023 when songwriters Andy Stone and Troy Powers, of the band Vince Vance & The Valiants, filed a lawsuit against the superstar. They alleged that Carey's 1994 global smash, All I Want for Christmas Is You, infringed upon their 1989 song of the identical name. The duo sought substantial damages reportedly amounting to $20 million (£14.8 million).
However, a judge has now definitively dismissed the case. Going a step further, the court has ordered Stone and Powers to compensate Mariah Carey for legal costs. According to legal documents obtained by outlets including TMZ, the Grammy-winning artist has been awarded $92,303.20 (approximately £68,394) in sanctions.
The ruling was reportedly based on the judge's determination that the lawsuit lacked merit. Complex reported the judge emphasised the need to deter people from filing baseless legal claims. In their original filing, Stone had argued that the Vince Vance & The Valiants track enjoyed "extensive airplay" in the 1993 holiday season, the year before Carey's version was released.
A Festive Hit That Keeps Breaking Records
This legal win coincides with yet another chart milestone for the perennial Christmas anthem. Billboard has announced that the song has now spent a cumulative 100 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100 chart, a historic feat. This total combines its runs with 18 of Carey's other number-one singles.
Specifically, All I Want for Christmas Is You holds the record for the longest-leading No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, with 21 weeks at the summit. As of December 2025, the publication notes it has peaked at No. 1 every holiday season since December 2019, demonstrating its unstoppable seasonal dominance.
Kylie Minogue Claims UK Christmas Number One
While Carey's hit continues to rule in the US, the UK's coveted Christmas Number One spot for 2025 has been claimed by another pop icon. Kylie Minogue surged to the top with her surprise festive track Xmas, finally overtaking the perennial contender, Wham!'s Last Christmas.
"It’s hard to put into words how special this feels," Minogue told the Official Charts. "Being Christmas number one really is the most wonderful gift."
Mariah Carey's classic still secured a strong position, landing at number three on the UK's festive chart. The top 10 featured other holiday staples including Brenda Lee's Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree and The Pogues' & Kirsty MacColl's Fairytale of New York.
Further down the chart, Chris Rea's Driving Home For Christmas was positioned at number 30. The release of the chart followed the sad news of the singer's death after a short illness, announced by his family on Monday. Tributes from fans flooded social media for the beloved artist.
