It's the most wonderful time of the year for holiday albums.

Make that the most wonderful time of the past 52 years.

On the Billboard 200 released Thursday (Nov. 25), Susan Boyle's holiday-themed "The Gift" spent a second week at No. 1, fending off Jackie Evancho's "O Holy Night," which debuted at No. 2.

Boyle and Evancho's seasonal albums locking down of the Billboard 200's top two spots mark the first time that holiday efforts ranked at Nos. 1 and 2 since Jan. 5, 1959. That week, holiday sets monopolized the survey's entire top five: "Christmas Sing-Along With Mitch," Mitch Miller & the Gang (No. 1); "Merry Christmas," Bing Crosby (No. 2); "Merry Christmas," Johnny Mathis (No. 3); "The Star Carol," Tennessee Ernie Ford (No. 4); and, "Christmas Carols," Mantovani (No. 5).

While several holiday albums have already decorated the Billboard 200 this season - "Glee: The Music, the Holiday Album" also bowed last week in the top tier (No. 8) - Boyle's sophomore collection is just the seventh holiday release to top the tally since it launched as a weekly list in March 1956.

Two seasonal sets reigned in 1957: Elvis Presley's "Elvis' Christmas Album" (four weeks) and Crosby's "Merry Christmas" (one).

Mitch Miller & the Gang led for two weeks the following year with "Christmas Sing-Along With Mitch." The collective added a second Billboard 200 holiday No. 1, "Holiday Sing-Along With Mitch," the first week of 1962. No seasonal album then topped the chart until 1994, when Kenny G's "Miracles - the Holiday Album" (yule-)logged three weeks at the summit.

Prior to Boyle's domination, Josh Groban's "Noel" had marked the last holiday No. 1, having begun a five-week command in December 2007.


In honor of the current domination of songs of the season - and as Billboard counts down the 100 most popular holiday songs - here is a look at all the holiday albums that have reached the Billboard 200's top 10 over the past 25 years.

Albums are ranked inversely by Billboard 200 peak position.


"NOW That's What I Call Christmas 3," Various Artists
No. 10, week, 2006


"All Wrapped Up! (EP)," Various Artists
No. 10, week, 2009


"Merry, Merry Christmas," New Kids on the Block
No. 9, one week, 1989

"And Winter Came...," Enya
No. 8, one week, 2008


"Glee: The Music, the Holiday Album," Soundtrack
No. 8, one week (to-date), 2010

"The Christmas Album," Neil Diamond
No. 8, two weeks, 1992


"Snowed In," Hanson
No. 7, one week, 1997


"Home for Christmas," 'N Sync
No. 7, one week, 1998

"The Magic of Christmas," Garth Brooks
No. 7, one week, 1999


"Dream a Dream," Charlotte Church
No. 7, one week, 2000


"Wintersong," Sarah McLachlan
No. 7, one week, 2006

"A Very Special Christmas 2," Various Artists
No. 7, two weeks, 1992


"Faith: A Holiday Album," Kenny G
No. 6, one week, 2000


"If on a Winter's Night...," Sting
No. 6, one week, 2009