Holiday Releases Roundup

Word/Warner Bros. trio Point of Grace has released a Christmas CD called Home For The Holidays, and just announced its Home For The Holidays Tour in December to support the recording. The tour launches today in Eden Prairie, MN and wraps Dec. 19 in Greenwoods, SC. Fervent Records artist Chris August will support.

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Mandy Barnett also has a new Christmas album, Winter Wonderland, which is available at Cracker Barrel stores everywhere. The video for its single “This Time Of Year” is already playing on The Boot. Barnett will join Bill Cody on WSM from 7-10 am tomorrow morning to talk about the project.

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Gretchen Wilson is releasing the holiday oddity “I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas,” which was originally recorded by Gayla Peevey in 1953. Wilson’s version features several children from her daughter’s school singing on the track. “This is such a fun, silly song,” says Wilson. “And having my daughter and her friends in the studio with me made it really special.”

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For those who prefer holiday meals with a little river flavor, Steve Azar is re-releasing his song “Catfish Christmas.” “We all enjoy the same traditional food during the holidays, and as much as I like turkey and all its trimmings, it can’t hurt to spice it up a little and introduce a new tradition now and again,” says Azar. “Here’s wishing everyone a very Merry Catfish Christmas.”

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Fresh from a November 26 appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, Highway 101 has a new DVD called Christmas On Highway 101. The DVD offers 11 holiday songs including the single “Six Gold Coins,” as well as a cameo from Wynonna.