British rock singer Chris Rea, best known for the festive favorite “Driving Home for Christmas,” has died at 74.
Rea passed away Monday, Dec. 22, in a hospital following a short illness, his family said.
In a statement issued on behalf of his wife and two children, the family said: “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.”
Rea had battled serious health problems for years. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had his pancreas removed in 2001. He later suffered a stroke in 2016.
BREAKING: Singer-songwriter Chris Rea, best known for hits including Driving Home for Christmas, has died aged 74, his family says.https://t.co/Brokd59lfz
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/tSnVK26Jt1
— Sky News (@SkyNews) December 22, 2025
Born in Middlesbrough, England, Rea rose to fame in the late 1970s and 1980s, carving out a blues-rock sound that delivered a string of hits. Among them were “Fool (If You Think It’s Over,” which earned a Grammy nomination, along with “Let’s Dance” and “The Road to Hell.”
His debut album, Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?, was released in 1978, a tongue-in-cheek nod to a stage name his record label once pushed him to use.
Rea’s enduring holiday anthem “Driving Home for Christmas” was first released in 1986 and has since become a seasonal staple, including a prominent spot in this year’s Marks & Spencer food Christmas advertisement.
With his gravelly voice and road-worn storytelling, Rea built a loyal following on both sides of the Atlantic, leaving behind a soundtrack that still hits hardest on long drives and winter nights.
