Ravin Lena wins the award for best holiday cover of 2025.
A stunningly beautiful take on a holiday classic reimagined by the rising R&B artist, her rendition of “O Holy Night” is what holiday season fans hope to hear from their favorites, and unlike most of what's typically seen at the top of the holiday charts.
With immaculately controlled, hymn-like vocals, it's clear that thought and care went into Lenae's stunningly soulful and smooth recording of the anthem. “I grew up listening to this song and always thought it was so melodically beautiful. [and] lyrically beautiful,” she explained of her entry into the holiday canon of Spotify Singles.
While cheerful Christmas songs by seasonal savants like Mariah Carey and Michael Bublé are streamed thousands of times each year, endless covers of holiday tunes overshadow the artists' efforts by exploiting the sudden maximalist nature of the song with booming bass, forced vocals, and unexpected octave leaps (sorry, Pentatonix).
As someone who hates snow and winter but loves Christmas, I don't want to walk into a department store during the busiest time of year and hear 100 Christmas songs that are completely devoid of warmth. Lena's version of “O Holy Night” reinterprets the beloved classic with genuine grace, allowing the simple clarity of her natural voice to remind us of the meaning behind capitalist excess.
