Christmas has already delivered an unexpected pairing. On 5 November 2026, Elton John and Irish singer CMAT unveil a new version of Step Into Christmas, the British musician’s festive classic. It brings together two artists who share a taste for big melodies, theatricality and humour — and offers a new way into the voice of contemporary Irish pop.
A Christmas classic finds an Irish voice
A new version available since 5 November
The release was confirmed this Thursday on Elton John’s official website. The track is available exclusively on Amazon Music as part of its Amazon Music Originals collection. This is a recording that is already available, rather than a collaboration simply announced for December.
According to Hot Press, this reimagining draws on elements from the 1973 recording, adding strings and CMAT’s vocals. The aim, then, is not to erase the song listeners know, but to give it a different dimension while retaining its festive momentum.
Why Elton John turned to CMAT
Country, pop and a shared sense of humour
In the release statement, Elton John says he has been following the singer for several years. He highlights her personality, humour and affinities with rock, country and Americana. The musical connection gives the collaboration its meaning: beneath the Christmas finery, both artists share an expansive way of expressing emotion.
For her part, CMAT recalls in comments reported by Hot Press listening to Elton John as a child in her mother’s car. Working with him therefore connects an intimate musical reference with her professional journey. That detail captures the encounter more accurately than the idea of a straightforward opportunistic year-end duet.
Another side of Irish music
CMAT, an artist between melodrama and pop freedom
CMAT is the stage name of Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, an Irish singer-songwriter. Her music combines country’s storytelling devices with pop sensibility and a strong sense of theatre. The official text accompanying the release describes her, among other things, as an Ivor Novello winner and mentions her albums If My Wife New I’d Be Dead and EURO-COUNTRY.
For those who know Ireland chiefly through its traditional tunes, this collaboration opens another window. Alongside Irish music sessions, the country has a pop scene that travels, engages with other traditions and refuses to be confined to a single sound.
Where can you listen to ‘Step Into Christmas’ with CMAT?
An Amazon Music exclusive, not a concert
Amazon Music’s 5 November press release confirms that the track forms part of its global selection of original, exclusive Christmas songs. The listening link appears on Elton John’s official page; access arrangements depend on the service and subscription used.
This release does not, in itself, announce a joint concert in Ireland. Its news lies in this new track: a meeting to hear now, and a chance to discover how an Irish singer brings her own personality to a familiar chorus.
