Elton John teams up with CMAT for Step Into Christmas duet

Elton John has teamed up with Meath singer-songwriter CMAT for a new version of his festive hit single Step Into Christmas.

The new duet of the 1973 single, which peaked at number seven on the UK singles chart in 2025, will be this year’s Amazon Music Original Christmas song, following last year’s XMAS by Australian singer Kylie Minogue, which became the 2025 UK Christmas number one single.

Elton said: “I’ve loved CMAT since I first heard her and saw her videos years ago. She has this incredible personality and a wicked sense of humour.

“You can tell she has rock’n’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.”

CMAT teased the single earlier this week with a number of Instagram posts showing her dressing up as Elton.

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.

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The singer is best known for songs such as Take A Sexy Picture Of Me, When A Good Man Cries and Running/Planning.

Elton, whose birth name is Reginald Dwight, is best known for hits such as Rocket Man, Tiny Dancer and I’m Still Standing. He 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 and 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. – PA