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’Tis the season for some new holiday music from some of the biggest stars in country music.
Some of the genre’s most beloved legends — including Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire — and other fan-favorite artists have already been feeling festive as they’ve begun to release new Christmas albums and singles throughout the holiday season.
McEntire and Parton each released new Christmas collections on October 14, giving fans the early gifts of the 12-track The Ultimate Christmas Collection and A Holly Dolly Christmas Deluxe, respectively. Between the two albums, fans can listen to stunning versions of “O Holy Night,” “White Christmas,” “Winter Wonderland,” “Silent Night,” “Holly Jolly Christmas,” and many more. Parton is also featured on Jimmy Fallon's latest holiday song, “Almost Too Early For Christmas,” which released Friday, November 4. Fallon explained that he wrote the festive duet because of the annual “debate,” as many people seek to figure out when it's acceptable to start listening to Christmas music.
Thomas Rhett put his own spin on four Christmas classics on his new holiday EP, Merry Christmas, Y’all: “Winter Wonderland,” “It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.” Rhett’s latest project might have released in October, but his family has proved that it’s never too early to start getting into the holiday spirit. One day after Halloween, Rhett showed on his Instagram story that the family was watching the 2000 film How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Rhett said in a statement that, in his household, “the moment Halloween is done we are listening to Christmas music only.”
Elvie Shane, often known for his heartfelt smash-hit single “My Boy,” dedicated to his stepson, also got into the holiday spirit early with his cover of “Blue Christmas,” Elvis Presley’s 1950s holiday classic. Shane announced on Instagram in late October: “Elvis was the king of Christmas too. Y’all can hear my take on my all-time favorite xmas song everywhere now.”
Likewise, Lee Brice shared his own Christmas song, though it’s a change of pace from the Presley classic… Instead, Brice delivered an upbeat Christmas tune that’s pretty perfect for driving with the windows down on a palm tree-lined road: “You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout. I’m telling you why… ‘Santa Claus Was My Uber Driver’ is out now!”
Dan + Shay were quick to tease fans with a snippet of a new Christmas song the day after Halloween, sharing on their social media channels on November 1 that “we wrote a new Christmas song the other day.” Dan Smyers — who makes up the hit-making duo with Shay Mooney — hinted in the comments that day: “Should we drop it this week? 😇” “Holiday Party” joins a list of previously-released Christmas music by Dan + Shay, including last year’s “Officially Christmas” and other fan-favorites: “We'll throw a holiday party/ Don't tell anybody/ We'll pour us a drink and hang some lights on the tree/ We'll be jingle bell rockin’/ ’Til the neighbors come knockin’/ So turn up the fire, playin' on the TV/ Watchin' for Santa from the top of the roof/ While we're wrapped up in a blanket for two/ We'll throw a holiday party/ Holiday party/ For just me and you.”
Callista Clark was quick to jump into the holiday season with her spin on “Please Come Home For Christmas,” a soulful cover of the song popular thanks to The Eagles. The rising star said in a press release shared by her record label: “My grandparents own a Christmas tree farm so it has always been a big holiday for me and my family. I love that with this release, I kind of get to be a part of a lot of other families’ holiday and share my love of Christmas with the world. I grew up listening to Classic Rock which is probably why ‘Please Come Home For Christmas’ has always been my favorite—it gives me that feeling of listening to classics on vinyl.”
Listen to some of the new Christmas music from your favorite country stars here: