Sir Elton John joins forces with Irish singer CMAT for festive reworking of Christmas hit

The pair have recorded a duet of the 1973 track, which will be released as this year's Amazon Music Original Christmas song.The original single reached number seven on the UK singles chart in 2025, more than five decades after its initial release.The pair have recorded a duet of the 1973 trackPATheir collaboration follows Australian pop star Kylie Minogue's XMAS, which became the UK's Christmas number one single in 2025.Sir Elton said he had been a fan of CMAT for several years, praising her personality and sense of humour.He said: “I’ve loved CMAT since I first heard of her and saw her videos years ago. She has this incredible personality and a wicked sense of humour.“You can tell she has rock and roll and country, and Americana, at the heart of what she does – we’re kindred spirits in so many ways, and that’s why I was so thrilled with the idea of us collaborating on Step Into Christmas. She’s done an amazing job.”CMAT, whose real name is Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, said: “When I listen to the music of Elton John, I am seven years old in the back of my mam’s car. It doesn’t matter how old or famous I become – whenever I listen to Elton John I will always be seven years old in the back of my mam’s car.“Reconciling this feeling with the reality of getting to work with the man in question has been confusing to say the least, but the greatest joy of my life.“Christmas is my absolute favourite thing in the world, second maybe only to Elton John. I would like to invite the whole world to step into Christmas with us and make your yuletide dreams come true.”Sir Elton has won five Grammys, five Brit awards and achieved 10 number one singles and albums in the UK chartsGettyIt comes after CMAT teased the single with a number of Instagram posts showing her dressing up as Sir Elton, which she posted earlier this week.CMAT, 30, won the best album gong at this year’s Ivor Novello Awards for her third LP Euro-Country, which was released last year.The Irish singer is best known for songs such as Take A Sexy Picture Of Me, When A Good Man Cries and Running/Planning.Irish singer CMAT is best known for songs such as Take A Sexy Picture Of Me, When A Good Man Cries and Running/PlanningPA WireSir Elton, whose birth name is Reginald Dwight, is best known for hits such as Rocket Man, Tiny Dancer and I’m Still Standing.Read MoreHe rose to fame in the 1970s following the release of his second album, the self-titled Elton John (1970) and has gone on to win five Grammys, five Brit awards and achieve 10 number one singles and albums in the UK charts.The new song will be available to stream exclusively on Amazon Music from Thursday.