Several country artists have released either original songs or put their own take on holiday classics to help celebrate the Christmas season. Whether it’s a Christmas carol that has been sung for decades, or an original, we have ten songs to keep on repeat this holiday season.
10. “Hurry Up Christmas,” HunterGirl
The Season 20 runner-up of American Idol, HunterGirl, had two of her songs included in Hallmark movies, including “Hurry Up Christmas,” which was part of the 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 of the feel-good song. “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 … was a moment I will never forget.”
9. “Holiday Road,” Chris Janson
Chris Janson performed “Holiday Road,” a song originally written and recorded by Lindsey Buckingham, for his Christmas at the Opry performance, as well as to close out ABC‘s The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration.
“I recorded that for my own version,” Janson told Everything Nash. “I played drums on it, for the first time in a recording session, so that was pretty exciting … I just love Christmastime. I love to rock and roll. I love country music.”
8. “Hallelujah,” Whey Jennings
Whey Jennings wanted to record Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” due to his strong Christian faith. It’s a song he performs throughout the year, even when it isn’t the holiday season.
“Hallelujah is a song that saved my life and it continues to save my life every day,” Jennings said when the song was released. “It has not only brought me closer to God, but it has also allowed me to bring others closer to God. I perform this song night after night at my shows. Hallelujah and Praise the Lord!”
7. “Blue Christmas,” Kane Brown with Elvis Presley
Kane Brown teamed up, thanks to technology, with his musical, Elvis Presley, for a remake of Presley’s popular holiday song, “Blue Christmas.” Their duet was part of the televised NBC Christmas at Graceland holiday special.
“I chose to cover ‘Blue Christmas’ because it was probably one of my favorite Christmas songs,” Brown recently told his record label. “I don’t have a lot. I used to sing it all the time whenever I was first coming up in the music scene, just while I was warming up and just playing around on stage. So when I got asked to do a Christmas song, of course, I’d have picked that one.
“And to reimagine it with Elvis is amazing … Just to hear me and Elvis on the same song is crazy,” he added.
6. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” Brenda Lee
Brenda Lee first recorded “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” in 1958, when she was just 13 years old. The song has been a mainstay on holiday playlists in the decades since then, but this year the song had a big resurgence. Lee released an official video for the song, with cameos by both Trisha Yearwood and Tanya Tucker, helping make the song a multi-week No. 1 single for Lee this year.
“I never, ever thought that it would be my signature song,” Lee admitted to Everything Nash. “I always thought ‘I’m Sorry’ might be, but it was never ‘Rockin’.” I knew ‘Rockin’ was good, but it comes out once a year, so I thought, they only have a short span to like it, to buy it, whatever they’re going to do. So I never dreamed that it would end up like this.”
5. “Please Come Home For Christmas,” Jon Pardi
Jon Pardi included “Please Come Home For Christmas” on his holiday album, Merry Christmas from Jon Pardi. The Grand Ole Opry member included both classics and originals on the project, but knew right away that “Please Come Home For Christmas” had to be part of the record.
“When I hear the chime of the piano on ‘Please Come Home For Christmas,’ it puts me right at Christmastime,” Pardi told UMG Nashville. “I don’t know, maybe because that song has been in so many movies or it’s just such a special song; it’s a legendary Christmas song. The Eagles wrote it. They killed it, and I’m glad that I have a version of it.
“On mine, it sticks out like a sore thumb,” he continued. “It’s very different, but it’s the same feeling and it sounds the same, but it’s got this new special kind of rendition of it, and I’m real happy to have that ‘cause that definitely puts me in it’s December and it’s Christmastime.”
4. “O Holy Night,” Trisha Yearwood with Lindsey Stirling
Trisha Yearwood not only co-hosted CMA Country Christmas alongside Amy Grant, but she also performed. The Georgia native sang a couple of songs, including “O Holy Night,” accompanied by violin virtuoso, Lindsey Stirling. It’s one of her favorite songs, as part of her favorite time of the year.
“I love the holidays,” Yearwood admitted. “I start getting in the mode around Thanksgiving, and I’m just full-on. I want to be the Griswolds. I want to decorate my house and all the things. I combine all the things about Christmas. I want to go to candlelight service on Christmas Eve, and I want to do al the things. I really get into the spirit of the season, hard.”
3. “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem,” Wynonna Judd
“Beautiful Star of Bethlehem” has been a favorite song of Wynonna Judd‘s for years, which is why she finally released her own, country-tinged version of the classic carol.
“’Beautiful Star of Bethlehem’ is one of the first Christmas songs I ever remember singing with Mom,” Wynonna said. “We recorded it in 1987 for the Christmas Time with The Judds album, and I still sing it to this day! Getting to re-record it with my husband and producer Cactus Moser, 35 years later, was so special to me. It’s rootsy and raw, as if we’re sitting around the fireplace singing together.”
2. “Feel Like the Holidays,” Scotty McCreery
Scotty McCreery unapologetically loves everything about the Christmas season, which is why he released “Feel Like the Holidays” this year. Written by Frank Rogers, Monty Criswell, Derek George, Bobby Hamrick and Jeremy Bussey, the uptempo tune evokes the feelings and sentiments that make the Christmas season so special to McCreery.
“Christmas is my favorite time of year and I sing Christmas songs every day,” McCreery said when the song was released. “When I first heard ‘Feel Like the Holidays,’ I knew I wanted to record the song. It has that timeless, classic Christmas music vibe and is so much fun. It feels like something that Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, or Michael Buble would sing. I’m looking forward to performing it this holiday season.”
1. “Fancy Like Christmas,” Walker Hayes
Walker Hayes had a major hit with “Fancy Like” in 2021, but says his new holiday song, “Fancy Like Christmas,” might be his favorite.
“This is the most excited I’ve been about a song in a long time,” Hayes said of “Fancy Like Christmas.” “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.”
Hayes also included his wife, Laney, and their six children in the fun, and humorous, video for “Fancy Like Christmas.”
“This joy has really refueled me with this excitement to get in and go,’ Hayes told People. “Let’s have some fun. Let’s go outside the box and play. And that’s what I needed. It’s funny how this song came back and did that for me.”
