When it comes to the holidays, country artists are all about making music to fit any Christmas mood–whether you’re joyful, thankful, reverent, lonely or not all that into the holiday season. Just like the plethora of holiday activities that folks engage in each year — attending Christmas gatherings, caroling, baking Christmas cookies, attending a tree lighting, enjoying hot cocoa, building a snowman, or traveling to see Christmas lights — country Christmas songs offer something for everyone.
Currently, Brenda Lee (the first woman to be inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame) resides at No. 1 on the all-genre Hot 100 with her classic “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” Meanwhile, Billboard’s Holiday 100 chart features classics by Gene Autry (“Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer”) and Faith Hill (“Where Are You Christmas”), as well as the Blake Shelton/Gwen Stefani song “You Make It Feel Like Christmas.”
Every year, country fans have come to expect a season rife with full-fledged holiday albums, succinct EPs, and of course, covers of holiday classics aplenty. Some artists, such as Brett Eldredge and Martina McBride, have made holiday touring a key part of their brand over the years.
Here, we look at this year’s slate of newly released country holiday songs, including music from Jon Pardi, Randall King, Kane Brown, Sam Williams, Breland, Kimberly Perry, Walker Hayes, Tanner Adell and more. Among the entries are Jon Pardi, with his first holiday album, while Hayes puts a festive holiday spin on his Billboard Hot 100 hit “Fancy Like.”
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Walker Hayes, “Fancy Like Christmas”
Walker Hayes gave his Billboard Hot 100 No. 3 hit “Fancy Like” a holiday makeover with “Fancy Like Christmas.” Though the key Applebee’s reference is still included, Hayes and his co-writers revamped the song, threading in lines about Starbucks lattes, fake Christmas trees and matching pajamas –and even a “Go Jesus, it’s your birthday” thrown in.
Hayes said of the new Christmas song in a statement, “This is the most excited I’ve been about a song in a long time. From the moment this idea came about, it was off to the races. I’ve never re-written a song before and I think this was the most fun I’ve ever had writing any song.”
Listen here.
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HunterGirl, “Hurry Up Christmas”
HunterGirl issued her first original holiday tracks this year, including this bright, jolly composition. “Hurry Up Christmas” focuses on HunterGirl’s dynamic vocals and is featured in the Hallmark Channel’s movie Christmas Island.
“When I found out that two songs I wrote were going to be featured in the Hallmark Channel’s Christmas movies, I was so excited for my whole family, especially my Nana,” HunterGirl said in a statement. “I’ve been watching Hallmark Christmas movies with my family since I was a little girl, so hearing my song, ‘Hurry Up Christmas,’ in Christmas Island over the weekend was a moment I will never forget.”
Listen here.
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Adam Doleac, “Please Come Home for Christmas”
Mississippi native and “Drinkin’ It Wrong” singer Doleac issues his first holiday track this year, a twang-fueled version of the Charles Brown- and Gene Redd-written classic, “Please Come Home for Christmas.” This polished, amiable version makes the most of Doleac’s clean-cut vocal.
Doleac will perform as part of the NBC holiday special Christmas at the Opry, set to air Dec. 7.
Listen here.
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Jay Allen and Allie Colleen, “O Holy Night”
Jay Allen and Allie Colleen teamed up for the reverent holiday classic “O Holy Night,” melding their voices gloriously.
Allen said in a statement, “I became a fan of Allie a few months back, when our agent introduced me to her music. Once I heard her voice and saw that she’s covered in tattoos, I knew we had to do something together. My label suggested a holiday cover, and we landed on this haunting version of ‘O Holy Night.’ I really hope it resonates with everyone, but either way, I couldn’t be more proud of this project and the friendship I’ve gained with Allie.”
Colleen added in a statement, “Honestly, I’ve never really crossed my mind to put out a Christmas song before, because I just wasn’t sure how well my sound would represent a Christmas song, but when Jay Allen was kind enough to ask me to record a Christmas song with the intent of showcasing our haunting side, I was very excited. I could not be more proud of how this project turned out.”
Listen here.
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Kane Brown and Elvis Presley, “Blue Christmas”
Brown recently released this duet featuring the King of Rock n’ Roll’s vocals, on a new version of Presley’s classic “Blue Christmas.” Brown recently performed the song as part of the NBC special Christmas at Graceland.
“Elvis is an internationally recognized icon and paved the way in so many different areas for artists, but I think to me what’s been really cool is — as I got older, learning a lot more about his background growing up, and just how much he had to push the meter in so may different ways, and how many times he was told ‘no’ before he powered through to become the legend he is today,” Brown previously told Billboard via email. “Now being an artist, having a better understanding just how amazing what he was able to accomplish was, and how he did it with his talent and by being so unique — that’s still so inspiring. It would be hard to pick just one song, but it is still something I am trying to wrap my head around that I have a duet with ELVIS. And to hear my daughters sing it at home now too — what an amazing feeling.”
Listen here.
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Jon Pardi and Pillbox Patti, “I’ve Been Bad Santa”
Jon Pardi issued his first holiday album this year, the dozen-song Merry Christmas From Jon Pardi, produced by Pardi, Bart Butler and Ryan Gore.
In addition to taking on classics such as “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Pardi teams with Pillbox Patti for the sultry “I’ve Been Bad, Santa,” with a flirtatious bent that recalls the classic “Santa Baby.” The song highlights Pillbox Patti’s soaring vocal, with Pardi’s twang offering a solid vocal foil.
Listen here.
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Kimberly Perry, “Hallelujah”
Kimberly Perry issued her first solo country album, Bloom, earlier this year (followed by the deluxe project Superbloom). This holiday season, she offers up a rendition of the Leonard Cohen classic “Hallelujah.”
Perry said in a statement about choosing the song, “Christmas is my very favorite time of year. I chose the non-traditional ‘Hallelujah’ because it feels like the perfect crossroads of the Bloom spirit and the holiday spirit – reckoning with both the wins and losses of the year with grace and a resounding ‘Hallelujah!’”
Listen here.
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Koe Wetzel, “Please Come Home for Christmas”
Included on Wetzel’s three-song EP Koe Wetzel Presents…Wetzel’s Wonderland, the Texas rocker lends a largely faithful rendition with a bluesier touch to this holiday classic.
Watch the video for “Please Come Home for Christmas” here.
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Alana Springsteen, “Christmas Comes in Waves”
Springsteen follows her three-installment project Twenty Something with this original holiday song, which she wrote with Trannie Anderson and Dallas Wilson (Lainey Wilson’s two co-writers of her hit “Heart Like a Truck”).
“Having grown up on the coast, all my favorite holidays were spent with family by the water,” said Virginia native Springsteen in a statement. “I’m a beach baby through and through and I can’t think of a more restful, festive way to spend Christmas than in the sand. I’ve been wanting to write an original Christmas song for a long time and finally made it happen with Trannie Anderson and Dallas Wilson. This one’s for everyone who feels a little more at home when they’re somewhere warm this time of year.”
Watch “Christmas Comes in Waves” here.
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Breland, “The Christmas Song”
Breland offers an elegant rendering of this Nat King Cole classic, backed by warm, resonate piano runs and a bright, understated orchestral string section. Breland performed the song as part of CMA Country Christmas back in 2021.
Listen here.
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Randall King, “Silent Night”
As King gears up for the release of his new album Into the Neon on Jan. 26, he’s offering up a mandolin- and steel guitar-filled version of the tender holiday carol “Silent Night.”
Listen here.
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Tanner Adell, “Hot Pink Christmas”
Adell, known for songs including “FU-150” and “I Hate Texas,” melds vocals both strong and breathy, with addictive beats and smooth R&B for this fun, empowering, flirtatious holiday confection. She puts a refined and delightfully light-hearted spin on the typical holiday song, and knows exactly the kind of rose-colored season she wants — one filled with “a little rose gold Tiffany” and “hot pink Birkin.”
Listen here.
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Sam Williams, “I Hate the Holidays”
Recognizing that the holiday season isn’t always merry and joyful for many — but rather, filled with grief and loneliness — Williams released the somber track, “I Hate the Holidays.”
“I hate the holidays and all the ways they make me feel alone/ Somewhere along the way the magic faded and turned to stone,” his crystalline voice sings, referencing the loss of beloved family members and the dearly-held memories of past holiday seasons with them.
“The holiday season has always been a little tough for me, but more so after losing a lot of my family,” Williams said in a statement. “It can’t be a time of celebration for everyone … really cold weather and seeing perfect holiday cards kind of bother me so I made this record. I believe just knowing other folks feel things you do too, can help a little bit. Nonetheless, I hope everyone has a beautiful season.”
Listen here.
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Madeline Edwards, “Perfect Christmas”
Edwards brings razor-sharp edge and personality to this holiday original, eschewing poised, elegant Christmas portraiture of an elegant family gathering. Rumbling bass, grungy guitar and Edwards’ soulful voice further heighten lyrics that detail fractured relationships, relatives arguing over political opinions, jealousy over presents and of course, copious amounts of wine. “I know I can’t be the only one who needs a holiday from the holiday when it’s done,” she sings.
The song is the title track to Edwards’ recently-released three-song EP.
Listen here.
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Brandy Clark, “My Favorite Christmas”
Two of Nashville’s premier songwriters turn their superb talents to holiday music, with stunning results. Clark wrote this sad-yet-wistful song with Shane McAnally. The lyric reminisces about a holiday love story set in New York, a story that was framed with pristine snow, Radio City Music Hall, lights and tinsel.
“For all we got wrong, well, we got so much right/ There’ve been Christmases after and so many before/ You’re still my favorite, am I still yours?” Clark sings. Her voice’s warmth and elegance was made to enhance picturesque lyrics like these.
Listen here.
