Stella Cole Releases New Holiday Single “Merry Christmas, Darling”

Rising jazz vocalist Stella Cole has released her latest single, “Merry Christmas, Darling,” on October 17, 2025, via Decca Records US. The track reimagines the beloved holiday classic originally recorded by The Carpenters in 1970, bringing a fresh and heartfelt interpretation to one of the season’s most cherished songs (Merry Christmas, Darling – Single, 2025; Merry Christmas Darling, n.d.).

Cole’s version has already drawn attention from the family of the original artists: Richard Carpenter, who co-crafted the 1970 hit, praised her take on the song, saying he had “been waiting fifty-five years for a fresh take on what I consider to be one of my better songs, and Ms. Cole knocks it out of the park” (Boston Symphony Orchestra, 2025)

The single follows Cole’s recent work interpreting timeless standards—drawing on her strong foundation in jazz and the Great American Songbook—and comes on the heels of her successful holiday EP Snow! and her sophomore album It’s Magic (Merry Christmas, Darling – Single, 2025; Stella Cole, n.d.)

Unlike some contemporary holiday releases that emphasize upbeat pop or novelty sounds, Cole’s rendition leans into an elegant vocal performance and classic arrangement, aligning with the emotional warmth and quiet nostalgia listeners often seek during the holiday season (ContemporaryJazz.com, 2025).

In addition to the single’s release, Cole is performing in holiday concerts across the United States this December, supporting “Merry Christmas, Darling” and connecting with audiences who appreciate both tradition and fresh artistic voice (Boston Symphony Orchestra, 2025; Wicked Local, 2025).

References (APA Format)

Boston Symphony Orchestra. (2025). Stella Cole [Artist profile]. https://www.bso.org/profiles/stella-cole

ContemporaryJazz.com. (2025, December 10). New holiday jazz roundup 2025 – ContemporaryJazz.com. https://contemporaryjazz.com/new-holiday-jazz-roundup-2025

Contemporary Jazz

Merry Christmas Darling. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved December 12, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merry_Christmas_Darling

Wikipedia

Merry Christmas, Darling – Single [Music release]. (2025, October 17). Apple Music. https://music.apple.com/us/album/merry-christmas-darling-single/1842227634

Apple Music - Web Player

Stella Cole. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved December 12, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stella_Cole

Wikipedia

Wicked Local. (2025, December 10). Christmas Dreaming with Stella Cole. https://www.wickedlocal.com/things-to-do/events/recordcitizen/?_evDiscoveryPath=%2Fevent%2F40660824t-christmas-dreaming-with-stella-cole