The Ultimate Guide To Taylor Swift's 'This Christmas'—And Why It's Not What You Think

Every holiday season, millions of listeners search for "Taylor Swift This Christmas," eager to stream a festive classic from the global superstar. As of December 15, 2025, a crucial piece of information often gets overlooked: Taylor Swift has never actually released a cover of the iconic R&B song "This Christmas," originally performed by Donny Hathaway. This common misconception points fans toward her official, and often-forgotten, 2007 debut holiday record, *The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection*, which remains a charming, country-pop time capsule of her early career.

The confusion stems from the fact that Swift’s six-track EP, initially titled *Sounds of the Season: The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection*, features a mix of traditional covers and two original songs. While it includes classics like "Last Christmas" and "Santa Baby," the soulful Donny Hathaway track is conspicuously absent. Despite this, the conversation around her holiday music is more relevant than ever, as fans eagerly await the possibility of a re-recorded "Taylor's Version" of the entire collection.

The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection: A Deep Dive into Her Early Christmas Music

The EP that forms the core of Taylor Swift's holiday catalog was released on October 14, 2007, a time when her career was still firmly rooted in the country music scene. The project served as a promotional EP for Target stores, showcasing a blend of traditional holiday favorites and her nascent songwriting talent. The collection was later re-released in 2009, demonstrating its enduring appeal to her rapidly growing fanbase.

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The Official Tracklist and Its Covers (No "This Christmas" Here)

For those searching for "Taylor Swift This Christmas," the actual content of the EP offers a delightful, if different, holiday listening experience. The tracks are a perfect reflection of the country-pop sound that defined her self-titled and *Fearless* eras.

• "Last Christmas" (Wham! Cover): The EP opens with a spirited, slightly twangy take on the George Michael classic. Swift’s rendition is notably more country-inflected than the original, featuring prominent acoustic guitars and mandolins.
• "Christmases When You Were Mine" (Original): This is one of the collection's two original songs, co-written by Swift, Liz Rose, and Nathan Chapman. It's a melancholic, reflective ballad that perfectly captures the heartache and nostalgia that would become a hallmark of her songwriting.
• "Santa Baby" (Cover): A playful, tongue-in-cheek rendition of the Eartha Kitt/Joan Javits standard. Swift delivers the sultry lyrics with a youthful, charming innocence.
• "Silent Night" (Traditional): A straightforward, beautiful acoustic performance of the classic hymn, showcasing the purity of her early vocals.
• "Christmas Must Be Something More" (Original): The second original track, this song offers a more mature, thoughtful perspective on the meaning of the holiday, moving beyond commercialism to focus on faith and community.
• "White Christmas" (Cover): A cover of the Bing Crosby classic, rounding out the EP with a timeless, warm feel.

The EP was produced by Nathan Chapman, who was instrumental in shaping Swift's early sound. The instrumentation relies heavily on country music staples—guitars, banjos, and fiddles—giving the entire collection a distinct "Swiftmas" feel that pre-dates her later, more pop-oriented holiday single, "Christmas Tree Farm."

The Donny Hathaway Connection: Why Fans Keep Searching for the Wrong Song

The reason "Taylor Swift This Christmas" continues to trend during the holidays is the sheer popularity and cultural significance of the original song. Donny Hathaway's 1970 R&B masterpiece, "This Christmas," is a staple of the holiday season, known for its lush, soulful arrangement and powerful vocal performance. It is a song that has been covered by countless artists, from Destiny's Child to Chris Brown, making it a natural assumption that an artist as prolific as Taylor Swift would have also recorded a version.

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Swift's holiday music tends to lean into a specific kind of nostalgia: the cozy, family-focused memories of growing up on a Christmas tree farm, as immortalized in her 2019 original single, "Christmas Tree Farm." While her version of "Last Christmas" is up-tempo and her originals are deeply personal, a cover of Hathaway's soulful and grand "This Christmas" would require a significant stylistic shift, one she might now be better equipped to handle with her modern pop and R&B influences.

The Ultimate Holiday Wish: The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection (Taylor's Version)

The most current and compelling reason to discuss Taylor Swift's holiday music in 2025 is the ever-present possibility of a re-recording project. The goal of her "Taylor's Version" series is to reclaim ownership of her early master recordings, and *The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection* is one of the few remaining pre-*Lover* projects yet to be re-recorded.

Fans speculate that a re-recorded EP, likely titled *The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection (Taylor's Version)*, would be an ideal home for her 2019 original, "Christmas Tree Farm," which currently exists as a standalone single. Incorporating this mega-hit would instantly elevate the profile of the entire collection.

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More importantly, a re-recording offers the perfect opportunity for Swift to finally address the "This Christmas" misconception. With her current vocal maturity and her willingness to experiment across genres—as seen in albums like *folklore* and *evermore*—a soulful, modern cover of the Donny Hathaway classic would be a welcome addition. Imagine a bonus track on the re-recorded EP: "This Christmas (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault)." This move would not only satisfy millions of search queries but also solidify the collection's place in the modern holiday music canon.

What a Re-recorded Holiday Collection Could Feature

If Swift were to surprise the world with a "Swiftmas" re-release, the new version would likely feature several key updates:

• Modern Production: While the charm of the original lies in its country-pop sound, a 2025 version would likely feature polished, contemporary production, possibly leaning into the grand orchestral arrangements of her later works, or even the indie-folk sensibilities of Aaron Dessner.
• Vocal Power: Swift's voice has evolved significantly since 2007. The re-recorded tracks would showcase her current vocal range and control, especially on classics like "Silent Night" and "White Christmas."
• "From The Vault" Tracks: The inclusion of "Christmas Tree Farm" is almost certain. Additionally, a "From The Vault" track could include a new original or, to the delight of millions, the long-awaited cover of "This Christmas" by Donny Hathaway.

Until then, the original *The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection* remains a charming and essential listen for any fan, a testament to her early artistry and her deep, genuine connection to the holiday season. While you won't find her version of "This Christmas" there, you will find the foundational holiday songs that helped shape the career of one of the world's most influential artists.