Christmas music is always a fun and festive way to ring in the holiday season with friends and family. Whether it is around the fire at your Christmas party or with the kids opening presents on Christmas day, you are bound to find some fun traditional Christmas songs to add to your Christmas season this year!
1. Dan+Shay
Dan+Shay are one of today’s hottest new comers to country music, their debut single “Nothing Like You;” has reached the top of the charts. Shay Mooney of Dan+Shay is especially excited for this Christmas as he will be celebrating his 27th birthday and the holidays at home in Arkansas. After their break Dan and Shay will be getting a brand new tour bus to resume tour early 2016![1] Here they are with a Christmas classic called, “Come All Ye Faithful”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlczYNORrK4
2. Frankie Ballard
Frankie Ballard is another one of country music’s new artists, Frankie has been around the country circuit for a few years now but recently hit the charts with his hits, “Young and Crazy” and “Sunshine and Whiskey.” Frankie took some time out of his day to perform for Notes for Notes, a nonprofit organization that distributes musical instruments free of charge to students.[2] This Christmas he is performing an old Chuck Berry holiday classic called, “Run Rudolph Run!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfuyDBdwgj8
3. Alan Jackson
Alan Jackson is seriously one of my all time favorite country music singers, even when he sings Christmas carols. In 2002 Jackson released; “Let it be Christmas,” which reached #27 on the Billboard 200 and #6 on the Top Country Albums charts but it was in 2003 that, “Let it be Christmas” soared straight to gold![3]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9oe_HTT4A8
4. Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard is one of country music’s legends; with 70 albums and 600 songs you’re sure to find a Haggard song you will love. But when I found out my best friend Kelly’s favorite Merle song was, “If We Make it Through December,” I knew I had to post it. The song was written by Merle himself in 1973 and is about the hardships of a working man who was laid off during the Christmas season. The song rose to the number one position on country music charts in the United States and Canada![4]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-IJxTd8dCo
5. Kelsea Ballerini
Kelsea Ballerni dropped into the country music circuit as fast as Taylor Swift left it. She has risen to the top of the charts with her hits, “Love Me Like You Mean It,” and “Dibs.” Here she is with “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas!” which she performed at the tree lighting ceremony at The White House in Washington D.C with President Obama, Reese Witherspoon, Fall Out Boy and Crosby Stills and Nash![5]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUudYylK0c4
6. Cletus Judd
Several years ago I was listening to Best Country 103 during the Christmas season and this song came on. “The Christmas Trees on Fire;” is a remake of Johnny Cash’s famous song,” The Ring of Fire,” and is and probably always will be my favorite Christmas song of all time!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArvjUJv2DYQ
7. Mickey Guyton
Mickey Guyton is a new country artist whose debut hit single, “Better Than You Left Me,” which was written for her ex boyfriend who called Guyton for reconciliation after she received an offer to sing for the President of the United States. Here is Mickey with, “Do You Wanna Build a Snowman!” the hit song from Disney’s Frozen!
8. Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton is one of country music’s most legendary female country music singers to date, Dolly has not only released records, but is also a hit movie star. Here is “Hard Candy Christmas,” from the musical, “Best Little Whore House in Texas!” to remind you that even through the hard times of the holiday season, you will always be fine!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvK1F6bUrzU
9. Joey and Rory
This Christmas is sure to be a special one for Joey and Rory, Joey has stage four terminal cancer this year and she is doing everything she can to make this the best one yet. Joey and Rory were just nominated for a Grammy and Joey’s new goal is to live long enough to get to the Grammy’s. Here they are with “It’s Christmas Time,” which was shot in their living room at their farmhouse in Tennessee!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgg4AMLkTv4
10. Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson can sing anything and it makes me so relaxed and this Christmas that is exactly what myself and I am sure many others need. In this song, “Pretty Paper,” Willie Nelson sings in his first Christmas song back in 1979!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqNFdFbo8cA
11. George Strait
Of course when making a country playlist, it’s only necessary to include the “King of Country Music,” George Strait. George sings “It’s Christmas Time in Texas,” where it’s still hot and the Christmas songs have a little Texas swing. To my friends in Texas this song is for you!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS0Vj9yfmmY
12. Oak Ridge Boys
A long favorite band of mine and a song that I remember growing up to as a kid! “Thank God for Kids,” is a wonderful song that reminds us to cherish the children and their beautiful imaginations that keep us young at heart during the holiday season!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPN4gXBL1JA
13. Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn sings “Country Christmas,” a song about making do with what you have and as long as you have family gathered around the tree, it will be a wonderful country Christmas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=657E9pw_1dc
14. Jeff Foxworthy
Jeff Foxworthy may not be a country music singer, but if you’re a country guy or gal then you will love Jeff’s Christmas carol, “Twelve Days of a Redneck Christmas!” It is bound to be fun to listen to around the tree with family and friends this holiday season!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJOe3CXE-mA
15. Johnny Cash
If you listen to just one of these songs, make sure to listen to this one this Christmas. “The Christmas Guest” by Johnny Cash is one for while you’re opening presents and sitting around the fire drinking eggnog. It is about a shoe keeper by the name of Conrad, who is waiting for the Lord!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTwAKf0OLo4
[1] http://tasteofcountry.com/dan-shay-have-two-reasons-to-celebrate-this-holiday-season/
[2] http://theboot.com/frankie-ballard-country-christmas-concert-2015/
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_It_Be_Christmas
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_We_Make_It_Through_December
[5] http://www.wwgp1050.com/2015/12/09/kelsea-ballerinis-national-christmas-tree-lighting-performance-streaming-now/