Driving Home For Christmas singer Chris Rea has died at the age of 74
Driving Home For Christmas singer Chris Rea has died "peacefully in hospital" following a short illness.
Chris Rea has died peacefully in hospital just days before Christmas, it has been announced.
The singer/songwriter, best known for his enduring festive classic Driving Home for Christmas, passed away on Monday (22.12.25) following a short illness at the age of 74. A statement released on behalf of his family confirmed he was surrounded by loved ones at the time of his death.
The statement read: “It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Chris. He passed away peacefully in hospital earlier today following a short illness, surrounded by his family.”
Born in Middlesbrough, Chris Rea did not embark on a music career until his early twenties. After learning to play the guitar, he joined a number of local bands before securing a solo deal with Magnet Records. His debut album Whatever Happened to Benny Santini? was released in 1978 and included the single Fool (If You Think It’s Over), which became a hit in the US and earned him a Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist.
While Rea continued to release albums throughout the early 1980s, mainstream success in the UK arrived with 1987’s Dancing with Strangers. Two years later, The Road to Hell cemented his status as one of Britain’s most distinctive voices, with the title track becoming one of his signature songs.
However, it is Driving Home for Christmas that has become his most enduring legacy. Originally released as a B-side to Hello Friend in 1986 and later re-recorded for New Light Through Old Windows, the song initially failed to chart. Over time, it evolved into a seasonal staple, returning to the UK Singles Chart every year since 2007 and peaking at number 10 in 2021.
According to the BBC, Rea once admitted he was reluctant for the song to be released. He said: “I didn’t need a Christmas song hanging around at that point. I did everything I could to get them not to release that record. Thankfully they did!”
An official X post from Middlesbrough F.C. - Chris' hometown football club - paid tribute to the musician following the news of his death.
Rea’s career was marked by significant health challenges. Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the age of 33, he underwent major surgery to remove part of his pancreas, gall bladder and liver. Though he recovered, he lived with diabetes and ongoing kidney issues. In 2016, he suffered a stroke but made another recovery and continued recording, releasing Road Songs for Lovers in 2017 and One Fine Day in 2019.
Rea is survived by his wife Joan and their two daughters, Josephine and Julia.
