Christmas in My Heart (Sarah Connor song)

German singer (born 1980)

Sarah ConnorConnor performing in 2023Background informationBornSarah Marianne Corina Lewe (1980-06-13) 13 June 1980 (age 46)Delmenhorst, West GermanyGenres Pop R&B Occupations Singer songwriter Years active2000–presentSpouse Marc Terenzi ​ ​(m. 2004&#59; div. 2010)​ Florian Fischer ​(m. 2013)​Websitesarah-connor.comMusical artist Sarah Terenzi-Fischer (born Sarah Marianne Corina Lewe; 13 June 1980), known professionally as Sarah Connor, is a German pop singer. She rose to prominence after she signed with X-Cell Records in 2000 and released her debut album Green Eyed Soul (2001) the following year. She followed it with a series of successful albums, including Unbelievable (2002), Key to My Soul (2003), Naughty but Nice (2005), Christmas in My Heart (2005), Soulicious (2007), Sexy as Hell (2008) and Real Love (2010). Several songs from these albums became hit singles on the pop record charts, including the number-one hits "From Sarah with Love", "Music is the Key", "Just One Last Dance", "Living to Love You" and "From Zero to Hero". In 2015, Connor's first German language project Muttersprache became her second chart-topper after a decade. Her popularity was further enhanced by the ProSieben reality television series Sarah & Marc in Love (2005) and Sarah & Marc Crazy in Love (2008) alongside her then-husband Marc Terenzi, chronicling their marriage and careers. In 2010, she returned to television to become a judge on the debut season of the German X Factor adaptation of which she remained part for two further seasons. In 2014, she joined the cast of the debut season of Sing meinen Song – Das Tauschkonzert, the German version of the series The Best Singers whose accompanying compilation album topped the Austrian and German Albums Chart. The following year, she served as a guest coach on the RTL II remake of the talent series Popstars 2015. Connor has sold seven million albums worldwide and is recognized as one of the most successful German vocalists to emerge in the 2000s. According to GfK Entertainment, she is the first recording act to ever have scored four consecutive chart-topping hits on the German Singles Chart. In 2017, Deutsche Welle ranked her third on its list of the top ten German solo acts who have enjoyed international success. A 13-time nominee, Connor won two Echo Music Prize and has been the recipient of four Comets, a Top of the Pops Award, a Goldene Kamera, a Goldene Europa, and a World Music Award. Separated from Terenzi, father of her first two children, Connor has been in a relationship with her manager Florian Fischer since 2010. The couple have another two children of their own.

[edit] Connor is the eldest of six siblings born to Michael Lewe, a copywriter from New Orleans, and his wife Soraya Lewe-Tacke (née Gray), a former fashion model and homemaker of Scottish, Irish, and German descent, in Hamburg. She has four sisters, including Anna-Maria Lagerblom, the wife of German rapper Bushido, as well as Marisa, Sophia-Luisa, and Valentina; and one brother, Robin. Her maternal half-brothers Mick and Lex were born in 2008, Connor grew up listening to soul music, mostly influenced by her paternal grandfather, a former jazz and R&B pianist from New Orleans. A church choir provided her with her first experience in gospel music at the age of six. In 1989, the family relocated from Hamburg to Delmenhorst, where Connor attended the Max-Planck-Gymnasium (high school). She also enrolled at the local performing arts school, where she received dancing, singing, and acting lessons, which she paid for through waitressing and modelling jobs. After dropping out of school, she completed an internship with RTL Television. In 1997, Connor and her sister Anna-Maria were picked to sing with the backing choir during the performances of "Earth Song" and "Heal the World" at Michael Jackson's HIStory World Tour in Bremen, Germany. Overwhelmed by a personal meeting with Jackson at the end of the show, she began to record a number of demo tapes under the pseudonym Sarah Gray, including cover versions such as "Silent Night" and "This Christmas" as well as the local radio success "Ula la Ula". In 1998, her boyfriend Martin Scholz, member of the boy band Touché, arranged for Connor to sign a management deal with the group's manager. She subsequently served as their opening act for a Bremen concert in July 1998. Unhappy with her management though, Connor transitioned to the manager Carlo Vista and began work on the single "This Christmas" with the producers Oliver Hintz and Thomas Nöhre. It was released through Villa Records in 1999. Also that year, she provided the leading vocals for the German producer Marc van Linden's trance remix of the 1982 record "Last Unicorn", which reached number eighty-six on the German singles chart. In 2000, music manager George Glueck eventually signed her as Sarah Connor with the Sony subsidiary X-Cell Records. Her stage name was chosen to capitalize on the popularity of the movie The Terminator.

[edit] 2001–2003: Breakthrough with "From Sarah with Love"[edit] Connor fluctuated between Berlin, Hamburg, and Hanover to work on her R&B and hip hop-driven debut album, involving German music producers Bülent Aris, Rob Tyger and Kay Denar as well as international collaborators such as Eddie Martin and rapper TQ. Its release was preceded by the top five and top 20 hit singles "Let's Get Back to Bed – Boy!" and "French Kissing", respectively, as well as her breakthrough hit, the ballad "From Sarah with Love", which reached the top position in Germany, Poland, Portugal and Switzerland and raised Connor's fame all over Europe. Eventually released in November 2001, Green Eyed Soul generally had mixed reception from music critics, who declared it a mixed bag but considered it a solid career launcher. The album debuted at number two on the German albums chart, and charted within the top five in Austria, Finland and Switzerland, reaching gold status in Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Portugal and Switzerland, while earning platinum certifications in Finland and Germany. Connor was subsequently awarded a Goldene Europa and won the Echo Music Prize for Best National Rock/Pop Female Artist, among three nominations.

Connor in 2002 at Verstehen Sie Spaß? The following year, Connor embarked on the Green Eyed Soul Tour in 2002 and began production on her second studio album Unbelievable. A continuation of Green Eyed Soul, she reteamed with Aris, Denar and Tyger to work on the majority of the album, with American musicians Wyclef Jean, Jerry Duplessis, and Diane Warren also joining the project. Jean wrote, produced and rapped on the album's lead single, "One Nite Stand (of Wolves and Sheep)", which once again entered the top 5. Unbelievable simultaneously achieved gold status in Germany within 48 hours and spawned another three singles, including "Skin on Skin", "He's Unbelievable" and "Bounce". In October 2003, Connor released a live DVD branded Sarah Connor Live – A Night to Remember: Pop Meets Classic, whose performance had been recorded at the Alten Kasselhaus in Düsseldorf on 24 January, including individual performances of own songs with a classical orchestra backing her up. In November 2003, in spite of being heavily pregnant with her first child, Connor released her third album called, Key to My Soul. The album's first single, "Music Is the Key" featuring New York a cappella singers Naturally 7, became her second number-one hit in Germany. "Just One Last Dance", the album's second and final single, was a re-recorded edition of the album's original version, including new vocals by Marc Terenzi's band Natural. The duet once again reached number-one in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland and the top 20 on a composite World Top 40. The album Sarah Connor featured the first single, "Bounce". It was released in many countries, including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. In Germany, the single made it to number 14 on the charts. In England and Ireland, it peaked at number 14 and was certified gold in Australia. In America, the song only managed a number 54 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album made it to number 106 and took off in the U.S., selling almost 100.000 copies.

[edit] Connor met Marc Terenzi, the lead singer of American boy band Natural, at the Bravo Happy Holidays festival in Rust, Germany, in July 2002. The pair began dating, and in June 2003, it was announced they were engaged and expecting their first child, Tyler Marc Terenzi, who was born on 2 February 2004 in Orlando, Florida. The couple married the same month. They renewed their vows with a wedding ceremony in Spain in August 2005, which was the subject of their ProSieben reality show Sarah and Marc in Love. On 23 June 2006, Connor gave birth to their second child, a girl named Summer Antonia Soraya. In November 2008, Connor announced her separation from Terenzi, which resulted in their divorce in 2010. In April 2010, Connor announced that she was in a relationship with her manager, Florian Fischer, the singer of the 1990s pop group The Boyz. In February 2011, the two confirmed that they were expecting a child. Their daughter Delphine Malou was born in September 2011. They married in 2013 and welcomed their son Jax Llewyn in January 2017.

[edit] Main article: Sarah Connor discography Studio albums[edit]

Green Eyed Soul (2001) Unbelievable (2002) Key to My Soul (2003) Naughty but Nice (2005) Christmas in My Heart (2005) Soulicious (2007) Sexy as Hell (2008) Real Love (2010) Muttersprache (2015) Herz Kraft Werke (2019) Not So Silent Night (2022) Freigeistin (2025)

[edit] Green-eyed Soul Tour (2002) Sarah Connor Live (2003–2004) Naughty but Nice Tour (2005) Sexy as Hell Tour (2009) Sarah Connor China Tour (Beijing/Guangzhou) (2010–2012) Christmas in my Heart Live (2012–2013) Muttersprache Live (2015–2017)

[edit]

Television guest appearances

Year

Title

Role

Notes

2005

Sarah & Marc in Love

Herself

Reality television

2008

Sarah & Marc Crazy in Love

Herself

Reality television, promo for Sexy as Hell

2009

Leo Piepmatz rockt das Haus: Eine Mut-Mach-Geschichte für kleine Löwen und große Rockstars

Herself

Audiobook

2010–2012

X-Factor

Herself

Main juror

2014

Sing meinen Song – Das Tauschkonzert

Herself

Television music show by VOX; Season 1

2014

Sing meinen Song – Das Tauschkonzert (Das Weihnachtskonzert)

Herself

Television music show by VOX; Season 1

2021

The Voice of Germany

[edit] 1Live Krone 2005 – Best Female Artist BMI Pop Awards 2005 – Pop Award ("Bounce") – WON Bravo Otto 2001 – Female Singer – Silver 2003 – Female Singer – Bronze 2004 – Female Singer – GOLD 2005 – Female Singer – GOLD 2006 – Female Singer – GOLD 2007 – Female Singer – Bronze 2008 – Female Singer – GOLD Comet 2001 – Best National Newcomer 2005 – Best Female Artist 2007 – Best Female Artist 2009 – Best Female Artist DIVA-Award 2005 – Music Artist of the Year ECHO (including nominations) 2002 – Best National Newcomer (Green Eyed Soul) – nominated 2002 – Best National Female Pop/Rock Artist (Green Eyed Soul) – WON 2002 – Best National Single – From Sarah with Love – nominated 2003 – Best National Female Pop/Rock Artist (Unbelievable) – nominated 2004 – Best National Female Pop/Rock Artist (Key to My Soul) – nominated 2006 – Best National Female Pop/Rock Artist (Naughty But Nice) – nominated 2007 – Best National Female Pop/Rock Artist (Christmas in my Heart) – nominated 2008 – Best National Female Pop/Rock Artist (Soulicious) – nominated 2009 – Best National Female Pop/Rock Artist (Sexy as Hell) – nominated 2011 – Best National Female Pop/Rock Artist (Real Love) – nominated 2015 – Partner of the Year (Sing meinen Song) – WON 2016 – Best National Female Pop/Rock Artist (Muttersprache) – nominated 2016 – Album of the Year (Muttersprache) – nominated Goldene Europa 2002 – Most Successful German Female Singer Goldene Kamera 2005 – Pop National MAXIM 2002 – Woman of the Year – Pop Star Neo Award 2004 – Most Downloaded Album – Key to My Soul Radio Regenbogen Award 2002 – Best Hit 2001 – From Sarah with Love Top of the Pops Award 2001 Best German Newcomer World Music Award 2004 – Best Selling German Artist World of Music Award 2008 – Best National Female Artist

Sarah Connor’s "Christmas in My Heart" blends glossy pop production with a warm, soulful vocal that feels both contemporary and nostalgic. The chorus leans on a classic bell motif, instantly signalling festive intent, while the verses keep a modern R&B groove that keeps younger listeners engaged. This balance makes the song versatile – it can sit comfortably alongside traditional carols on a family playlist, yet also fit into a club‑friendly Christmas party set. Its lyrical focus on love and togetherness taps into the season’s emotional core, turning it into a go‑to track when people want a fresh but familiar holiday soundtrack without the over‑played orchestral fare.

If you’re building a Christmas collection, look for the deluxe edition of Connor’s 2005 album – it often includes a higher‑quality stereo mix and a few bonus tracks that extend the festive mood. Streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music carry the standard version, but for audiophiles, a lossless purchase on platforms like Qobuz or Tidal preserves the subtle backing vocals and the crisp sleight of the glockenspiel. Physical CD copies sometimes come with a holiday‑themed booklet that adds visual charm to your gift‑giving routine. Check for bundled holiday compilations, as those can provide added value with other seasonal favourites.

Many assume "Christmas in My Heart" is a cover of an older German carol because of its title, but it is an original composition penned by Connor and her team during the mid‑2000s pop boom. The track was specifically produced for her first full‑length Christmas album, not as a holiday single repurposed from an earlier hit. Listeners sometimes overlook the subtle nods to classic European Christmas melodies, interpreting them as mere sampling rather than intentional homage. Understanding that the song is a contemporary pop‑R&B creation helps appreciate its polished arrangement and why it still feels fresh on modern playlists.