British rock and blues musician Chris Rea has died aged 74, the BBC confirmed on its live news feed, sparking widespread tributes from fans and fellow artists. Rea was best known for the seasonal classic Driving Home for Christmas, as well as hits like The Road to Hell and On the Beach. His family said he passed away on December 22, 2025, after a short illness, surrounded by loved ones.
Originally from Middlesbrough and active from the 1970s onward, Rea’s gravel-soaked voice and slide guitar work made him a distinctive figure in British music; Driving Home for Christmas has become a perennial holiday favourite on both sides of the Atlantic.
Tributes poured in across social media and in the music community, cementing his legacy as an artist whose songs soundtracked festive seasons, road trips, and quiet late-night moments for millions of listeners.
