Jose Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad” Enters Top 10 on Billboard Hot 100 for First Time in 50 Years

Jose Feliciano is making chart history with his holiday classic…

The 75-year-old Puerto Rican musician, singer and composer’s “Feliz Navidad” moves up from No. 16 to No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, dated December 19, hitting the top 10 for the first time, 50 years after its original 1970 release. It previously reached No. 12 last holiday season.

Jose Feliciano

The holiday classic sports gains of 6% to 23 million in radio airplay audience, 15% to 18.5 million U.S. streams and 34% to 3,000 sold, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data.

Feliciano adds his second Hot 100 top 10, after his debut entry, his cover of The Doors‘ “Light My Fire,” hit No. 3 in August 1968. (The Doors‘ original ruled for three weeks in the summer of 1967.) He has charted 11 total Hot 100 entries, as well as 16 titles, including eight top 10s, on the Hot Latin Songs chart.

The legendary singer, songwriter and guitarist is celebrating the 50th anniversary of “Feliz Navidad” this year. He performed on NBC‘s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and CBS Sunday Morning last week and, among other festivities, has a livestream scheduled for December 20.

Last month, Amazon Music Lat!n revealed a special 50th anniversary reimagining of Feliciano’s iconic holiday classic, featuring 30 artists including CNCOJon Secada, Frankie JJencarlos Canela, Pablo Montero, Julio Iglesias, Jr.Jason MrazGloria GaynorPatricia Manterola and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

José Feliciano Celebrates 50th Anniversary of “Feliz Navidad” with “The Tonight Show” Performance

José Feliciano’s classic Christmas song is celebrating a major musical milestone…

The 75-year-old Puerto Rican musician, singer and composer’s “Feliz Navidad” turns 50 this year, with no signs of age.

Jose Feliciano

The classic Christmas song is one of the top 10-performing hits in the decade-plus history of Billboard‘s Holiday 100 chart, and one of the most popular Latin songs of all time.

Recorded in 1970, “Feliz Navidad” is a marvel in many ways.

“It just came to me; there’s no rhyme or reason,” he recently told Billboard. “The first lyric came to me, then I put the English lyric into it, not realizing I had made it the only bilingual Christmas song ever in the world. I created a monster.”

Feliciano stopped by The Tonight Show earlier this week to perform his timeless hit.

Last month, Amazon Music Lat!n revealed a special 50th anniversary reimagining of Feliciano’s iconic holiday classic, featuring 30 artists including CNCOJon Secada, Frankie JJencarlos Canela, Pablo Montero, Julio Iglesias, Jr., Jason MrazGloria GaynorPatricia Manterola and Lin-Manuel Miranda.