A new episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast looks back at the 10th anniversary of Ariana Grande's holiday EP Christmas & Chill. Released in late 2015 amid career challenges, the six-song project helped reset her trajectory. Hosts discuss its lasting impact and potential holiday legacy.
In late 2015, Ariana Grande's rise to pop superstardom encountered minor setbacks. Controversies like “Donutgate” drew media scrutiny, and her single “Focus”—intended as the lead for her then-titled album Moonlight—underperformed commercially, leaving some fans underwhelmed. To mark the holiday season and refresh her sound, Grande surprise-released the six-song EP Christmas & Chill.
This week's episode of the Great Moments in Pop Star History series on the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, hosted by Andrew Unterberger, features Billboard staff writer and longtime fan Kyle Denis. They reflect on a decade since the EP's release, recalling Grande's earlier holiday tracks, including one poised to become a seasonal standard. The discussion explores why Christmas & Chill resonates deeply with fans and Grande, and how its style foreshadowed elements in her subsequent non-holiday music.
The hosts tackle key questions: How did an EP lacking overt hit singles become pivotal in her career? What are standout tracks? How did a ukulele-driven song fit into 2015's pop landscape? They ponder differences between the “Naughty” and “Nice” versions of “Santa Tell Me,” and why Grande has rarely revisited or promoted her holiday output. A central theme is whether Grande could succeed Mariah Carey as the “Queen of Christmas.”
Listeners can access the episode with an accompanying YouTube playlist of Grande's holiday highlights. The podcast releases weekly on platforms like Apple Music and Spotify, covering pop stardom topics every Thursday. Denis also shares his 2025 Year in R&B review and a recent Druski feature.
