If you’re seeking a brand new Christmas song to get you in the festive spirit, Kelly Clarkson and Ariana Grande have got you covered! Three years ago, the stars collided on NBC’s “When Christmas Comes Around” to perform their graceful and feel-good festive duet single, “Santa, Can’t You Hear Me,” as first featured on Kelly Clarkson’s second Christmas album, and the result was 100% magic, amassing over 22 million YouTube views to date!
Backed by a full band and orchestra, these two chart-toppers are a flawless vocal match – the vibrant mix between Kelly’s bold voice and Ariana’s sweeter, softer tones serves both holiday excitement and angelicness, while the stars sing with unmissable chemistry and pure Christmas spirit. Their harmonies are out of this world (especially once paired with the phenomenal backing singers), splitting lyrics, interweaving melodies like vocal pros, and providing additional backing vocals for each other’s top-line moments.
Ariana (aged 28 in this clip) opts for a classic Christmas outfit – a 1950s style snow white dress, hair bow, and fur shrug serving modern Marilyn Monroe, while Kelly (then 39) recreates her Christmas album cover look, gowned in a deep winter berry dress which trails to the floor like a red carpet show-stopper. It’s beautiful to see the pair dance elegantly through the hit, spreading their outstanding energy to the farthest members of their band.
The effortless energy and control behind these two powerhouse vocalists seem to double when they’re together, bouncing off each other’s harmonies and reaching insanely high chest notes without one star attempting to outshine the other. And, of course, Ariana has to throw some whistle notes in there for a sleek dash of Mariah Carey Christmas.
This isn’t the first time Ari and Kelly have hit the spotlight together. In 2021, the pair both appeared as guest judges on The Voice USA alongside John Legend and Blake Shelton (check out the quartet’s mind-blowing cover of Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” in the second video above!). That same year, Ariana even appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show for a fun chat about their Voice experience and live collabs.
It might seem impossible to Music Man readers for modern stars to match the nostalgia of classic Christmas hits, but this live collab turned that theory on its head, with one spellbound viewer taking to the comments to admit “[it’s] even better live than the recorded version” and others writing, “Their voices melt together like butter;” “What one doesn’t do, the other does.”
Kelly Clarkson’s latest Christmas tune, “You For Christmas,” hit streaming services in September 2024.
Kelly Clarkson and Ariana Grande have truly crafted a modern Christmas classic with their mesmerizing duet, “Santa, Can’t You Hear Me.” Their harmonies, combined with a stunning visual performance, encapsulate the holiday spirit beautifully. If you’re eager to delve deeper into this festive masterpiece and see why it has captivated millions, check out the links provided below for more enchanting content.