(December 31, 2019). It may take a few years to do it, but when it comes to No. 1 records and Billboard chart feats of wonder, Mariah Carey has proven she can do just about anything!

Even if that includes reclaiming a crown that was rightfully hers for 23 long years before a 20-year-old rapper from Georgia took it away this past summer.

Chart Queen Mariah Carey

Earlier in 2019, Mariah’s long-standing chart record with Boyz II Men for most weeks at No. 1 by one song was eclipsed when Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” (featuring Billy Cyrus) remained at No. 1 on the Hot 100 for a 17th, 18th and 19th week, passing the 16-week high-mark that Carey’s “One Sweet Day” set in 1996, which was tied three years ago by Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito,” featuring Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber.

Few such records in Billboard history have stood so long.

Then, just three weeks ago to the delight of Lambs everywhere, Carey was somewhat redeemed when her old Christmas standard “All I Want for Christmas Is You” reached the top spot for the first time after 25 years of existence, giving the Christmas Queen her 19th chart-topper on the Hot 100, more than anybody but the Beatles.

“All I Want” spent three weeks in total at No. 1, finishing the holiday season at the top of the latest chart – dated January 4, 2020 – and giving Carey yet another honor of being the first artist to have at least one song at No. 1 in four distinct decades – in her case the ‘90s, ‘00s, ‘10s and ‘20s. Granted, the last two decades were covered in just the past three weeks with the song reigning on the last two charts of 2019 and the first chart of the new decade.

But, here’s the real kicker.

Carey could actually take back the single-song longevity record from Lil Nas X, and she wouldn’t even have to record another song to do it.

If this past holiday season was any indication – and it really was – Carey is likely to return to No. 1 next Christmas, and the one after that, and the one after that, and so on, and so on…

And so on…

And, If she averages at least three weeks at No. 1 per year like she did this season, “All I Want” could accumulate 19 weeks total at No. 1 by January 2026. In fact, that same season Mimi could achieve her 20th and 21st weeks at the top with the perennial holiday favorite.

Granted, it would be 20 or 21 cumulative weeks, not consecutive like the others. But cumulative counts in Billboard’s record books.

Just think about it, Mimi could retake the record from Lil Nas X with a tune that was released before either of the previous record-breaking songs were even recorded, as “All I Want” was released in 1994 and “One Sweet Day” came a year later.

Clearly, “All I Want for Christmas” is the gift that keeps on giving. It’s been called Mariah’s 401-K plan, her cash cow, her retirement pension, her perennial money tree, and every other name you can think of that differentiates Mimi’s recurrent smash hit from the mere mortal contenders that otherwise grace the charts.

More Mariah: The mini-stories behind all 19 of her No. 1 Hot 100 singles.

But a No. 1 return for “All I Want” isn’t necessarily a given. There was a lot of marketing behind this year’s push to the top. This blog doesn’t want to give her any ideas, but she may want to be thinking about the promotion strategy for her classic Christmas carol for the next six years.

As Carey proved with the song’s 25th anniversary campaign in 2019, there’s never too much publicity when the cherry on top is another week at the chart pinnacle.

New videos, new merch tie-ins, even new remixes! Whatever she needs to do is fair game to own the next six Yuletide holidays.

Well, sort of like she’s owned the last umpteen Christmases.

On second thought, maybe it is a foregone conclusion that she’ll do it.

Mark it down and check back with DJROBBLOG’s prediction in about six years!

DJRob

DJRob is a freelance blogger who covers R&B, hip-hop, pop and rock genres – plus lots of music news and current stuff! You can follow him on Twitter @djrobblog.

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