Home Free just announced the release of their upcoming Christmas album, Warmest Winter. The 12-track record includes collaborations with Alabama, Rachel Wammack and Striking Matches — three diverse acts each picked for a specific reason.
Alabama joins Home Free on “Christmas in Dixie,” a song written by Alabama members Randy Owen, Jeff Cook and Teddy Gentry, along with Mark Herndon, first released 38 years ago, in 1982.
“We’ve known Alabama for years, and we all grew up listening to their music,” Home Free member Rob Lundquist told Everything Nash. “We have opened for them in the past, and Jeff Cook has actually come out to one of our shows. We’ve been looking for an excuse to get them on a record, and ‘Christmas In Dixie’ seemed like the perfect collaboration. We were so excited they were down to record this with us.”
Home Free also has a personal connection with Rachel, whom they met thanks to one of country music’s biggest superstars. Rachel joins the group on “Tennessee Christmas,” the Amy Grant and Gary Chapman-penned classic Christmas song.
“We had met Rachel Wammack when we were both opening for Reba McEntire last summer,” Rob recounted. “We were blown away by her talent and had been wanting to collaborate with someone on ‘Tennessee Christmas’ for a while, so we just asked her on the spot if she’d be interested, and thankfully, she was.”
Striking Matches was also an easy choice to include on the new project. The duo joins Home Free in singing the uptempo holiday favorite, “Run, Run, Rudolph.”
“I was familiar with Striking Matches because I saw them rock the house when they opened for Johnnyswim and found out afterward that we both use the same management company,” Rob shared. “After we had recorded ‘Run, Run, Rudolph,’ we knew we needed to spice it up somehow, and we asked them if they’d be willing to make our song way cooler. They did just that.”
Home Free didn’t set out to pick three unique artists to join them on Warmest Winter. Instead, the five-man group looked at each song on the record, which includes both original songs and reimagined versions of beloved Christmas classics, to determine who they wanted to join them on each tune.
“We see what would suit the song the best,” Rob said. “Each collaboration is different.”
Warmest Winter will be released on November 6. Pre-orders are available at HomeFreeMusic.com.
I’ve been a fan for years now and can’t wait for the rest of the world to catch up. These men are terrific!
I found homefree when someone posted the song amazing grace with peter hollens. I have been a huge fan ever since.
I agree with Diane!! They are fantastic!
I found Homefree a year ago on You Tube. It was the best thing that could have happened. I love these guys. They are awesome. I have 2 Shirts, 5 CD’s, Tim’s solo CD, autograph picture of Tim, 2 Homefree Masks, and pre-ordered “Warmest Winter” bundle package. Oh and I am also a Patron if Tim and Austin which is awesome as well. More will be ordered soon.
I heard about home free when my family and I watched the “Sing off” and they won. They are awesome and just keep getting better and better. I love all of their songs. I also love when they have guest singers included in their songs; like the Oak Ridge Boys, Kenny Rogers, Alabama, just to name a few. May God keep blessing you and keep all of you safe!
LOVE these guys and they always pick fantastic people to collab with!! Can’t wait to get the new cd!!
My first viewing was O Holy Night. Gave me goose bumps. Watch or list need to every song loads of time. Best experience , when I met them their first visit to London . I was totally blown away. These guys are a pure vocal work of heart. Easy on the eye n adorable to talk to. Love them. Thanks guys , from the UK