Artist:The Lumineers Single: “Silent Night” Release Date: December 18, 2020
In Their Words: “Venues have gone silent all across the country and world because of the pandemic. Hope is on the horizon, and we believe we’ll be playing again in 2021. But independent venues need our help to survive that long. Don’t let the venues remain silent forever – SAVE OUR STAGES. When you stream our song ‘Silent Night,’ all proceeds will go towards supporting the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA).” — The Lumineers
Editor’s Note: For an entire year, all proceeds from streaming “Silent Night” will benefit NIVA, helping save some of the music industry’s most important independent stages. The video aims to raise awareness of the severe challenges that venues across the nation are facing during COVID-19. “Silent Night” highlights the fact that venues across the country have gone completely silent due to the pandemic.
Artist:Lullanas Album:Christmas Together (Wherever We Are) Song: “Blue Christmas” Release Date: December 4, 2020
In Their Words: “The lyrics to ‘Blue Christmas’ hit a little harder this year (2020). We know many people won’t be having their typical gatherings, and chances are, a lot of us will be feeling blue missing someone. We grew up on Elvis’s version of ‘Blue Christmas’ and couldn’t help but put our own spin on it. We also perform this song every year at the Christmas Village in Philadelphia, so recording this song brought back the warm feeling of live music to us.” — Atisha and Nishita Lulla, Lullanas
Artist:Brandy Clark Album:Happiest Season (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Song: “Only Time of Year”
In Their Words: “‘Only Time of Year’ was such a fun and challenging song to sing. I didn’t write it, but I really loved it when I heard it. However I was unsure of whether or not I could sing it, because of the pop nature of the melody and phrasing. I am so thrilled that it worked out. I love the movie and am really proud to be a part of a soundtrack that is so inclusive of so many LGBTQ+ artists.” — Brandy Clark
Artist:Carolina Story Song: “New Year’s Eve” Release Date: October 23, 2020
In Their Words: “All of our favorite Christmas songs are those of Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Sinatra and Judy Garland lamenting the mistakes, hardships and trials of that given year and looking ahead to a fresh start. ‘New Year’s Eve’ has always been one of our favorite holidays, and I would say that we consider it an extension of Christmas. We came at it from that angle and wanted to write more of a broader ‘holiday’ song that people could grasp onto and find some hope and joy in during these uncertain times. We’ve all been through a lot with a global pandemic, social and racial justice issues and all of the uncertainty being confronted. We imagined the countdown from ten just before the stroke of midnight on this upcoming New Year’s Eve as 2020 fades away and all of the thoughts that will be running wildly through the minds of people all over the world. We wanted to write the song envisioning all of us standing by the fire in one big living room at that moment, choosing to move forward together.” — Ben Roberts, Carolina Story
Artist:Tom Mason Album:Under a Mistletoe Sky Song: “Little Elvis, King of the Elves” Release Date: November 6, 2020
In Their Words: “The holidays are all about nostalgia, and what could be [more] nostalgic than Elvis? As a kid I’d stare longingly at the guitars in catalogues. When I got older, my first traveling gig was with an Elvis impersonator, so I suppose I have a soft spot for the King. I imagined ‘Little Elvis’ as an elfin Elvis impersonator on a cartoon Christmas special we’d see as kids, watching in our pajamas just before going off to bed to dream of the arrival of Christmas. In these crazy, splintered times I wanted to make a holiday CD that was fun and inclusive, focusing on the joyful aspects of the season. I set out to write new songs that would tap into the nostalgia of the holidays. If ever I doubted a song wasn’t Christmas-y enough, there was a simple solution: more sleigh bells!” — Tom Mason
Artist:Jesse Lynn Madera Featuring Matt Rollings Song: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” Release Date: October 22, 2020
In Their Words: “What an honor, master class, and joy it was to sing with the legendary Matt Rollings as he produced and played on ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.’ It was important to incorporate the weight of this transformative year into our interpretation, and I think Matt and I were feeling similarly about the events unfolding around us. For that reason, the emotions in our performances danced with ease that isn’t always so readily available in the studio. To have all the players on the same page in their heads, that’s unusual and nothing short of electric. Kristin Wilkinson added a phenomenal string arrangement to the mix. The stars really aligned for this track to happen, and I couldn’t be more proud or grateful to have my name on this.” — Jesse Lynn Madera
“Jesse Lynn Madera is an amazing artist and person. In the years we’ve known each other, I’ve seen her kindness, generosity and fierce spirit, and these traits all come out in her music. All I had to do was press record, sit at the piano, and start playing, and out came this incredible music. She told the story of this classic song in a way I’ve never heard before. Intimate, nostalgic, sad and beautiful…” — Matt Rollings
Artist:Uncle Billy Song: “Together Again” Release Date: December 4, 2020
In Their Words: “When we started Uncle Billy in 2016, we were motivated to write Christmas songs that felt classic, yet explored themes and stories not commonly expressed. Every year we write and record one new original Christmas song with the goal of one day releasing them as a full length album. While most years we follow whatever amusing idea comes to us, this year was different. We wanted to speak to the moment and flood a little love and hope into people’s lives after what’s been, and continues to be, a pummeling year, made worse by having to be apart from the ones we love. ‘Together Again’ is a song for everyone and a reminder that one day, we’ll be together again at Christmastime.” — Kevin Andrew Prchal and Nate Erickson, Uncle Billy
Artist:Nicki Bluhm Song: “Everyone’s Getting Love for Christmas” Album:Buon Natale EP
In Their Words: “This song felt very fitting for Christmas 2020. With so many out of work, spending money on gifts just isn’t in the cards for some. The silver lining is gratitude — gratitude for the things and people in our lives that money cannot buy. With the help of my Nashville friends and neighbors AJ Croce and Scot Sax, director/producer Jesse Noah Wilson and Todd Sherwood (owner of The 5 Spot in East Nashville who warmly opened his venue doors), we were able to shoot this all-too-real seasonal video.” — Nicki Bluhm
Solidifying her position as our favorite person of 2020, Dolly Parton served up not one, but TWO holiday treats this year: the new Netflix movie, Christmas on the Square, and A Holly Dolly Christmas, her first Christmas album in thirty years. The woman never stops, and with the arrival of these early Christmas gifts, we’ve decided to celebrate by rounding up our top five “Dolly Holiday” moments and memories.
“Hard Candy Christmas” from The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas – 1982
Okay, maybe this isn’t *technically* a Christmas song, and maybe it wasn’t written by D.P., but her version — from the film adaptation of the stage musical, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas — is impossibly lovable nonetheless.
The lyrics are more prescient this year than ever before: “Lord it’s like a hard candy Christmas / I’m barely getting through tomorrow / But still I won’t let sorrow bring me way down…”
Once Upon a Christmas – 1984
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: this is the best Christmas record EVER. Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton, hot on the heels of their megahit “Islands In the Stream,” brought their potent electricity to a mix of classics and originals that wonderfully capture the joy and nostalgia of the season. “I Believe in Santa Claus,” “Christmas Without You,” and “Christmas To Remember” are all standout soft-rock holiday singles, but for the true fan the real gem is Kenny and Dolly’s hour-long television special that accompanied the release.
Smoky Mountain Christmas – 1986
Billed as a “made-for-television Christmas musical fantasy film” — directed by Henry Winkler no less! — this is a hidden treasure of the Parton holiday oeuvre. For some reason, the eight original Parton-penned songs were never released as a soundtrack, but you can still watch the full movie online and hear the title track below
“O Little Town of Bethlehem” from Home for Christmas – 1990
Dolly’s second holiday album, the wonderful Home for Christmas, is chock-full of traditional seasonal fare, but it’s the promotional television special that really brought the record to life. Listen to roots-tinged tracks like “O Little Town of Bethlehem” first (featuring a killer band with bluegrassers Stuart Duncan and Carl Jackson backing her up!), then immediately check out Dolly’s parents and siblings in this clip from the special below. Further proof that talent runs in the Parton family!
While you enjoy Dolly’s most memorable seasonal moments, new and old, dive into our It’s a Dolly Holiday playlist:
Artist:Tommy Emmanuel Album:Live! Christmas Time Song: “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” Release Date: December 4, 2020
In Their Words: “This live Christmas album was recorded at The Big Room at the Sierra Nevada Brewery in Chico, California, which is the same place I filmed and recorded my album, Center Stage. That room just has some mojo for me. When I listen to this recording, I hear the joy, soul, and fun we had at that show. Christmas music is so joyous to me and I feel we rose to the occasion that night. I’ve always felt a connection to the song ‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas.’ It just speaks to the heart, especially to anyone who travels for a living. Annie Sellick’s singing is just beautiful on that song. ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘Guitar Boogie’ are also standout tracks for me. Pat Bergeson’s harmonica playing seems to push me to another level.” — Tommy Emmanuel, CGP
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