We run down the Top 10 Country Christmas Albums of All Time (in our opinion), with a mix of the old and new, covers and original songs – from Brett Eldredge to Sarah Darling to Faith Hill, we’ve got you covered to get in the festive mood.
1. Brett Eldredge, Glow (Deluxe)
In case you’ve been living under a country-proof rock, you’ll doubtless have been listening to this one for countless weeks now. Brett Eldredge’s voice is made for the festive season, coating a mix of traditional carols, an original – ‘Glow’ – and the corny ones we all know and love with his honeyed vocals. This is a Christmas album that avoids that dangerous pitfall of being too cheesy or annoying – it’s one you can more than bear listening to on repeat for several weeks, and – dare I say it – actually still love by the 1st of January.
2. Lady Antebellum, On This Winter’s Night
Beautifully crafted and chosen – as every album by Lady Antebellum surely is, the group seemingly effortlessly master these tunes, with arrangements that are clearly highly thought through. Hilary Scott’s lead vocals are a joy to listen to. Like Eldredge’s ‘Glow,’ the sole original track here is the title track – though this is perhaps the weaker moment of the album, yet it still allows the album to read beautifully.
3. Kacey Musgraves, A Very Kacey Christmas
If you’re looking for something a little different from a Christmas album, this is a must for the list. This is an album rife with nostalgia and original tunes, toeing the line powerfully between kitsch and vintage. An expertly curated album – we would expect nothing less from Musgraves, who has clearly thought carefully about the ordering of this album, sprinkling in some of the well-known classics among her clever originals. This is truly an adult country Christmas album.
4. Sarah Darling, Winter Wonderland
The beloved Sarah Darling’s 2017 Winter Wonderland is a light among Christmas albums. Darling’s voice is truly made for Christmas poignancy and sentimentality – with her gorgeous vocals, she evokes the ‘Winter Wonderland’ of the album’s title. Darling manages to reinvent the tracks of the album, without losing their familiar appeal. It’s a masterpiece of festive emotion
5. Kelly Clarkson, Wrapped In Red
Not quite country, but hey with Reba as part of her extended family we’re adding Kelly Clarkson to the list. ‘Wrapped in Red’ is one of the best new, original songs to have graced the Christmas singles list in the past few years. This is Clarkson’s voice at its finest, pairing stunningly with these hallowed Christmas tunes…
6. Martina McBride, White Christmas/It’s The Holiday Season
For many Martina McBride’s Christmas songs are the holiday staple, and luckily we got another load of songs to add to the Christmas rotation this year – happy early Christmas everyone. Yet again McBride does not disappoint, and these albums are sensational, balanced and crafted albums showcasing McBride’s powerful vocals.
7. Emmylou Harris, Light Side of the Stable
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B6PSMg1Lus
As if we didn’t have enough angels around at Christmas, Emmylou Harris’s vocals are as angelic as they come. This is one of those quieter, more reverential Christmas albums that does justice to the joy of Christmas, and provides a moment of solemnity and purity amongst the festivities – and it is beautiful.
8. Garth Brooks, Beyond the Season
Here to instil some honky-tonk into the mix is Garth Brook’s album, half original, half traditional, there are many surprise elements to this album, including gospel moments and originals, this is one not to miss.
9. Faith Hill, Joy To The World
Faith Hill definitely adds a bit more joy to the world with this one… This is one of the more traditional of the ‘country’ Christmas albums. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel of Christmas music, regardless Hill’s vocals speak for themselves.
10. Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers, Once Upon A Christmas
Would it be a country Christmas rundown without some Dolly and Kenny on the list? This is the duo in fine form, with bells and whistles strapped to those cowboy boots – need we say more?
