Diane Keaton earns her first Billboard chart hit with “First Christmas,” which soars more than 63,000% in sales following her passing. SAN MARINO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 13: Diane Keaton attends the Ralph Lauren SS23 Runway Show at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens on October 13, 2022 in San Marino, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
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On October 11, Diane Keaton passed away at the age of 79. The beloved actress enjoyed a career that spanned six decades, during which time she was nominated for four Academy Awards — winning once for Best Actress in Annie Hall — as well as multiple Emmy nods and even a shot at a Tony Award.
While she was not known as a musician during her lifetime, Keaton did record one song just months before her death. As America mourns her unique personality, style, and talent, Keaton’s single track has been thrust into the spotlight like never before, and it helps the A-list star reach a Billboard music chart for the very first time. Sadly, this is a feat she didn’t get to experience.
Diane Keaton Charts Her First Billboard Hit
Keaton’s “First Christmas” launches on just one Billboard tally this frame, the Digital Song Sales chart. Purchases of the tune skyrocketed after the news of her passing was made public, and the cut barely manages to break onto the ranking of the top-selling tracks on platforms like iTunes and Amazon across the United States, where it starts at No. 22.
Diane Keaton’s Only Song Skyrockets 63,500% in Sales
“First Christmas” was never a bestseller nor a hit of any kind until this frame. The tracking period prior to Keaton’s death, the tune only managed to sell single-digit copies in America. After the tragic news went viral, it managed almost 1,300 pure purchases, according to Luminate, the music industry organization that fuels the Billboard charts by providing sales and streaming data. From one frame to the next, Keaton’s song saw its sales leap by 63,500%.
Diane Keaton Joins Blackpink’s Jisoo, Zayn, and Foxy Shazam
On this week’s 25-spot Digital Song Sales chart, nine tracks debut. That roundup includes new arrivals from stars like Blackpink singer Jisoo, former One Direction member Zayn, Foxy Shazam, as well as “Gravity,” which credits multiple actors and comes from the Hazbin Hotel series.
D’Angelo Posthumously Arrives Alongside Diane Keaton
Sadly, Keaton is not the only artist to reach the Digital Song Sales chart for the first time after their death. R&B master D’Angelo scores three wins this frame, just days after his passing. The Grammy winner’s tracks “Untitled (How Does It Feel),” “Lady,” and “Brown Sugar” arrive at Nos. 10, 13, and 17, respectively, helping the superstar appear on the roster for the first time.
Taylor Swift Earns a New No. 1 Bestseller with “The Fate of Ophelia”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 02: Taylor Swift attends the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards on February 02, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
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This week’s Digital Song Sales chart is ruled by Taylor Swift. The singer-songwriter conquers the ranking with “The Fate of Ophelia,” which debuts at No. 1, earning the superstar her milestone thirtieth champion. While “The Fate of Ophelia” serves as the lead single from Swift’s brand-new No. 1 album The Life of a Showgirl, it was not immediately made available to purchase as a standalone track, at least not for the first seven days that the full-length was out in the world. Once The Life of a Showgirl had collected all of its first-week consumption, Swift uploaded the cut to download storefronts — but no other tune from the project — and it becomes a bestseller outside of the album.
Diane Keaton’s Christmas Song Could Return During the Holiday Season
“First Christmas” was written by legendary songwriter Carole Bayer Sager as well as Jonas Myrin. The track was released less than a year ago, on November 29, 2024, at which point Keaton stated that it had been her dream to record a song and that she was thrilled to put it out into the world.
Now that “First Christmas” has reached a new level of public consciousness, the track could experience a second wind later this year. “First Christmas” may become a bestseller and reach some of Billboard’s seasonal rankings, such as the Holiday Digital Song Sales or Holiday Streaming Songs charts, or perhaps, with any luck, the Holiday 100. Those tallies, which return every year, which have yet to be reintroduced, but will very soon.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2025/10/25/diane-keatons-only-song-jumps-63500-in-sales-following-her-death/
