Country Artists Soundtrack The Holidays

Country artists are getting in the spirit and releasing music to soundtrack the holiday season. Here’s a roundup of current holiday releases.

Kenny Rogers has announced dates for his traditional Christmas & Hits Tour, as well as his first-ever live Christmas album, Christmas Live. The 20-date tour kicks off Friday (11/26) in Bossier City, LA and wraps 12/22 in Westbury, NY. Christmas Live, which features holiday favorites like “Silent Night,” “Mary, Did You Know,” and “The Chosen One/Joy To The World,” is available for pre-order on Rogers’ website and at Christmas & Hits tour stops.

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American Idol alum Danny Gokey has apparently taken to his adopted home of Nashville. The RCA Records artist, originally from Wisconsin, has now released his first-ever holiday single—his version of Amy Grant’s “Tennessee Christmas.” Gokey’s version is available for download at online retailers as well as his website.

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Songwriter Deborah Allen (“Baby I Lied”) has partnered up with comedian Cledus T. Judd for a humorous holiday track called “Redneck Christmas.” The song was penned by Allen in 2009, with Judd adding his comedic flair in 2010, and is being released digitally through GMV Nashville.

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Jason Michael Carroll has released his first Christmas album, titled Christmas On The Farm. The disc offers a mix of holiday standards as well as the original title title track co-written with Patrick Davis, which has been shipped to radio for holiday airplay. Carroll also has tour dates scheduled through December, and plans to release a full-length album in 2011.

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Newcomer Rachel Holder has released a holiday single called “Christmas Eve” and partnered with Nashville independent label All Entertainment. The song is available through online retailers, and the Amanda Van Sandt-directed video can be seen here. Holder is currently recording in the studio with industry veteran Chuck Howard.