British rock and blues singer Chris Rea, best known for the popular Christmas song Driving Home for Christmas, has died at the age of 74.
A statement released on behalf of his wife and two children said Rea passed away peacefully in hospital on Monday after a short illness. He was surrounded by his family at the time of his death.
His death comes just three days before Christmas, a season closely linked to Driving Home for Christmas, one of the most played festive songs in the UK and beyond.
Rea was born in 1951 in Middlesbrough, England. He became famous in the late 1970s and 1980s with hit songs such as Fool (If You Think It’s Over), Let’s Dance and The Road to Hell.
His 1988 compilation album, New Light Through Old Windows, brought him wider success and featured Driving Home for Christmas, which later became his biggest hit.
During his career, Rea released more than 25 studio albums. Two of them — The Road to Hell (1989) and Auberge (1991) — reached number one on the UK Albums Chart.
The Christmas classic, first released in 1986, remains popular and was recently featured in a 2025 Marks & Spencer Christmas advert in the UK.
Rea had battled health issues for many years. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2001 and suffered a stroke in 2016.
He is survived by his wife, Joan, and their daughters, Josephine and Julia.
