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The holiday season is here. People are spending time with their families, buying presents, making food, watching movies and listening to their favorite holiday albums. While everyone may have their personal favorite, there are some that are more popular than others. These are the best-selling holiday albums of all time in the United States according to the Recording Industry Association of America.
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Elvis Presley’s “Elvis’ Christmas Album” has been released and re-released since its original debut in December 1957. The album has been certified triple platinum for selling 3 million copies of the original release in the United States.
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Elvis’ second Christmas Album, “The Wonderful World of Christmas,” was released in July 1971, and although it didn’t initially have the same appeal as “Elvis’ Christmas Album,” it still performed really well, eventually going triple platinum for selling 3 million copies in the United States.
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‘December is a solo piano album by pianist George Winston released in 1983. “December” is Winston’s best selling album, having been certified triple platinum.
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“Home for Christmas” is Amy Grant’s second holiday album. It was released in October 1992. Grant is a Christian artist that sold over 3 million units of this holiday album in the United States.
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“Beyond the Season” is the first holiday album for country music artist Garth Brooks. It was released in August 1992 and eventually went triple platinum, selling more than 3 million units in the United States.
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“When My Heart Finds Christmas” is American artist Harry Connick Jr.’s first holiday album. Released in October 1993, it sold over 3 million units in the United States.
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“Christmas Eve and Other Stories” is the debut studio album by the American rock band Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Released in October 1996, “Christmas Eve and Other Stories” is the first album in Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “Christmas Trilogy” and has been certified triple platinum for selling 3 million units in the United States.
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“Faith: A Holiday Album” is the second holiday album by saxophonist Kenny G. And while it did not sell as well as his previous holiday album, it was still very successful in its own right. The 1999 album was certified triple platinum for selling more than 3 million units in the United States.
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Neoclassical music group Mannheim Steamroller’s sixth album, and fourth Christmas album, “Christmas Extraordinaire,” was released in 2001. It eventually was certified triple platinum for selling 3 million units in the United States.
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“The Gift” is the first holiday album by Scottish singer Susan Boyle. Released in November 2010, the album eventually went triple platinum, selling 3 million units in the United States.
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American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi created the soundtrack “A Charlie Brown Christmas” for the movie of the same name. The soundtrack was certified quadruple platinum for selling 4 million units in the United States.
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“Christmas Through the Years” is a compilation album released by Reader’s Digest Music in 1984. The album sold more than 4 million units in the United States.
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Although “It’s Christmas Time” is a 1999 reissue of “Elvis’ Christmas Album,” it still went on to have a lot of success and be among the best-selling holiday albums of all time. The album totaled sales of more than 4 million units in the United States, making it quadruple platinum.
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“A Very Special Christmas” is the first in the “A Very Special Christmas” series of Christmas-themed compilation albums produced to benefit the Special Olympics. It was released in October 1987. The album ended up going quadruple platinum, selling more than 4 million units in the United States.
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“Christmas in the Aire” is the third holiday album released by American music group Mannheim Steamroller. It was originally released in 1995 and ended up selling 4 million units in the United States.
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“White Christmas,” which was initially released in 1945 under the title “Merry Christmas,” is a compilation album by Bing Crosby. The single from the album, “White Christmas,” is the best-selling single of all time with more than 50 million copies sold worldwide. The album has sold 4 million units in the United States, earning it the title of quadruple platinum.
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“Christmas” is a holiday album by Canadian-Italian crooner Michael Bublé that was released in October 2011. The album has sold more than 4.4 million units, according to Nielsen Music.
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“Merry Christmas” is the first Christmas album by American pop singer Johnny Mathis and was released in October 1958. Mathis’ holiday album has sold more than 5 million copies in the United States.
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“A Christmas Album” by Barbra Streisand is her first holiday album and was released in October 1967. The album was a huge success as it went five-times platinum for selling more than 5 million copies in the United States.
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“These Are Special Times” is the first holiday album by Canadian singer Celine Dion, released in October 1998. The album sold more than 5 million copies in the United States, making it certified five-times platinum.
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“The Christmas Song'' was originally released in 1960 under the title “The Magic of Christmas.” The album has sold more than 6 million copies in the United States, making it certified six-times platinum.
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“Mannheim Steamroller Christmas” is the first holiday album released by American music group Mannheim Steamroller, debuting in 1984. The album was certified six-times platinum for selling 6 million copies in the United States.
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Mannheim Steamroller cracks the list for the fourth and final time. “A Fresh Aire Christmas,” released in 1988, is the second holiday album by the American music group. The album was certified six-times platinum for selling 6 million copies in the United States.
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“Merry Christmas” is the first holiday album by American singer Mariah Carey, released in October 1994. The album has been certified six-times platinum for selling more than 6 million copies in the United States.
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“Now That’s What I Call Christmas!” is a two-disc compilation album released in October 2001. The album is a part of the “Now!” series and is the first holiday-themed album in the series. The album went on to have a lot of success, selling more than 6 million copies to be certified six-times platinum.
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“Noël” is the first holiday album by Josh Groban. Released in October 2007, the album went on to be certified six-times platinum for selling more than 6 million copies in the United States.
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Saxophonist Kenny G makes another appearance on this list for “Miracles: The Holiday Album.” Released in 1994, “Miracles” went on to extreme success. It was certified eight-times platinum for selling more than 8 million copies in the United States.
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The best-selling holiday album of all time is “Elvis’ Christmas Album” by Elvis Presley, which was a re-release of the original “Elvis’ Christmas Album” that came out in 1970. It’s the only album on this list to be certified diamond for selling more than 10 million copies in the United States. Consider getting this album for a friend or family member — it’s one of many thoughtful gifts for the holidays.
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