Billie Eilish wasn’t yet 14 when she caught the world’s attention with her song “Ocean Eyes.” Somehow both minimalist and lush, the track mesmerized fans of all genres. Now 23, the “bad guy” singer has staked her claim at the top of the pop charts. This year saw Eilish rock the 2024 Summer Olympics closing ceremony (and truthfully, the entire summer of 2024) with the darkly poignant “Birds of a Feather,” off her Grammy-nominated third album Hit Me Hard and Soft. Recently, she wrapped up a five-night run of shows at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum on Saturday (Dec. 21.) And in the spirit of the season, Eilish closed out the show with a haunting cover of one beloved Christmas tune.
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Billie Eilish Serenades L.A. Crowd With “O Holy Night”
“O Holy Night” has always loomed large in my own personal Yuletide lexicon. Based on Placide Cappeau’s 1843 French-language poem Minuit, chrétiens, the song took the top spot among Classic FM listeners in 2023 for the eighth straight year.
Honoring the holiday’s Christian roots, “O Holy Night” celebrates “the night of our dear Savior’s birth.” And Billie Eilish took a sold-out crowd at Kia Forum to church when she covered the ethereal holiday tune during her Saturday (Dec. 21) show.
“We’ve been doing a Christmas cover for every show, so we’re gonna do another one,” Eilish said prior to her performance. Encouraging the crowd to sing along, the Oscar-winning artist delivered an exquisite performance of the cherished Christmas carol.
“I’m not religious at all, I just love Christmas so much,” Eilish told the crowd afterwards.
[RELATED: Behind the Song: How Billie Eilish Impressed Her Mom on “Birds of a Feather”]
Social Media Reacts: “Now I’m in Need of an Entire Christmas Album”
Online, social media users praised the performance as “so majestic” and “absolutely beautiful.”
“Billie Eilish sang O’ Holy Night (my favorite Christmas song) at her concert last night and now I’m in need of an entire Christmas album,” one fan gushed on X/Twitter.
Billie Eilish sang O’ Holy Night (my favorite Christmas song) at her concert last night and now I’m in need of an entire Christmas album.
— Strez (@Its_Strez) December 23, 2024
Honestly, same—especially after hearing this sultry rendition of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” from Eilish’s Dec. 14 show.
“okay i need this on spotify [right now,]” demanded one YouTube user, echoing my own thoughts.
Featured image by Tom Nicholson/Shutterstock
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