Stats: White Christmas Sales According to Guiness Book

Bing Crosby’s (USA, 1903–77) “White Christmas” has sold an estimated 50 million copies worldwide. The festive favourite was written by Irving Berlin (USA, 1888–1989) in 1940, recorded in 18 minutes on 29 May 1942 and introduced in Berlin’s musical movie Holiday Inn (USA, 1942), starring Crosby and Fred Astaire (USA, 1899–1987). First appearing on a collection of songs from the movie in July 1942, “White Christmas” reached No.1 on the National List of Best-Selling Retail Records chart – a forerunner of the Billboard Hot 100 – in October 1942, where it remained for 11 consecutive weeks. “Candle in the Wind 1997”, Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s (both UK) tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales (UK, 1961-97), has sold 33 million copies worldwide and is regarded as the best-selling single since US and UK singles charts began in the 1950s.

http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/…selling-single

****************************

Plus it was made into a Movie in 1954 with Danny Kaye, Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen.

In 1999, National Public Radio included it in the "NPR 100", which sought to compile the one hundred most important American musical works of the 20th century. Crosby’s version of the song also holds the distinction of being ranked #2 on the "Songs of the Century" list, behind only Judy Garland’s "Over the Rainbow," as voted by members of the RIAA.[14] In 2002, the original 1942 version was one of 50 historically significant recordings chosen that year by the Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry. In 2004, it finished at #5 on AFI’s 100 Years…100 Songs survey of top tunes in American cinema.

The recording was broadcast on Armed Forces Radio on April 30, 1975, as a secret, pre-arranged signal precipitating the U.S. evacuation from Saigon.[15]