My favorite time of year is here…
We’ve “flipped the switch” to Christmas music on my nightly radio program! I’m all about celebrating Christmas the whole year through, but I have to wait for the rest of the world to catch up to my enthusiasm.
To try and narrow my favorites down to a list that would fit on a page or two isn’t remotely possible, but every year there’s a few stand-outs I like to bring your attention to.
Here’s my Christmas Music Musts list for 2025!
Add these to your holiday playlist!
LeAnn Rimes: “Greatest Hits Christmas”
LeAnn Rimes had been keeping a Christmas secret… She's just released her fourth holiday album!
"Greatest Hits Christmas", available on CD and vinyl, is comprised of holiday classics like "Rocking Around The Christmas Tree" and songs from holiday Hallmark movie soundtracks including, 'Holiday in Your Heart' and 'It's Christmas Eve."
She unwrapped another surprise too... The album will feature three brand new recordings, the single, “All I Want For Christmas Is You" and two duets, one with Luke Evans on 'There's No Such Thing' from the musical '32 Hooves', and one with Gavin DeGraw, on 'Celebrate Me Home.'
Her Greatest Hits Christmas Tour hits 7 cities between December 4th and December 22nd. You’ll will be one lucky little elf if you're able to catch the show!
ADD: “Greatest Hits Christmas” to your collection
Available on CD and vinyl LP
Natalie Grant: “Christmas”
If you want to feel better about the world, spend a minute or two with Natalie Grant.
Her new holiday album, simply titled “Christmas” features 10 tracks to fill you with the Christmas Spirit.
The spine-tingling“Go Tell It On The Mountain”, and “Silent Night” ft. Mercy Me’s Bart Millard are favorites, as is the lead single, “Christmas Looks Good On You”, a delightful ode to her hubby, who gets a little Scroogiee when it’s time to put up the tree.
If you get the opportunity, go see Natalie when her Celebrate Christmas Tour visits your home town - or one nearby! It will be a beautiful night to remember!
“Christmas” is available now
VISIT: NatalieGrant.com
Sia: “Everyday Is Christmas ~ Deluxe”
While the 9-time Grammy® nominated pop legend, Sia’s, “Everyday is Christmas, ~ Deluxe Version” isn’t a new release, the original holiday album has been added to and now features 20 songs including the viral sensation “Snowman”: with over 1.25 BILLION streams on Spotify!
All tracks are originals, and because Christmas music is only played for a few short weeks a year, they are still as fresh as the boughs of holly you’ll be decking your halls with this year!
Kick up your holiday playlist with “Santa’s Coming For Us,” “Candy Cane Lane” ,“3 Minutes ‘Til New Years” and every one of the 20 terrific twinkling tracks!
ORDER: the full original album, “Everyday Is Christmas”
Train:“Christmas In Tahoe”
(10th Anniversary Edition)
If you don’t have this album in your Christmas music collection, you’ve been missing out!
This year multi-GRAMMY Award-winning, Train is celebrating a decade of Christmas in Tahoe with a special 10th Anniversary Edition!
It brings new life to the smash-hit Christmas album, featuring all 18 previously-released tracks, as well as three newly penned, original songs “Under the Christmas Moonlight,” “Rainy New York Christmas,” and “Let’s Stay in Tonight,” that are sure to become instant holiday classics for years to come.
Originally released in 2015, Christmas in Tahoe debuted on the Billboard 200 and spent five weeks in the Top 10 of Billboard’s Top Holiday Albums Chart, with six tracks landing on Billboard’s US Adult Contemporary Chart.
Train puts their signature sound and spin on timeless holiday hits together with beloved originals like the iconic, RIAA gold-certified “Shake Up Christmas.”
Ten years after“Shake Up Christmas” was the #1 best-selling holiday song debuting on the Billboard Hot 100, it boasts over 300 million global streams and nearly 120 million views on YouTube, and garners over 3.5 million radio impressions yearly. It gets me movin’ every time and it will do the same for you!
ORDER: “Christmas In Tahoe”
(10th Anniversary Edition)
Bob Seger: “Ultimate Hits”
Bob Seger’s version of “Little Drummer Boy” is a favorite of mine!
During a career spanning more than 50 years, Bob Seger has crafted an impressive body of instantly familiar tunes that capture the spirit of America’s heartland.
The GRAMMY Award-winning rocker has sold over 53 million albums and been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame.
His best selling Ultimate Hits collection is packed with 26 fan favorites including “Night Moves,” “Turn the Page,” “Still The Same,” “Old Time Rock And Roll,” “Against The Wind,” and “We’ve Got Tonight,” and features his timeless rendition of the Christmas classic, “Little Drummer Boy.”
When you add this one to your catalog, you get some Christmas happiness and a whole lot of good tunes to take you through the rest of the year.
PICK UP: Ultimate Hits
for King & Country: A Drummer Boy Christmas
for KING + COUNTRY drums in the 2025 holiday season with A Drummer Boy Christmas.
It’s the fourth studio album, and first full-length Christmas album by Luke & Joel Smallbone, those charming and talented Australian brothers of Christian pop.
A Drummer Boy Christmas debuted at No. 2 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums Chart in the US and received nominations for the GMA Dove Award Christmas / Special Event Album of the Year.
With 14 tracks in all, it has two original Christmas songs: "Heavenly Hosts" and "The Carol of Joseph (I Believe In You)"; as well as guest appearances from Needtobreathe on the track "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" while the song "Go Tell It On The Mountain" features guest vocals from Gabby Barrett.
The star of this show, (in my book) is the heart-stopping rendition of “Little Drummer Boy” done in the spectacularly unique style of for King & Country. Don’t let another Christmas pass by without “A Drummer Boy Christmas“ in your holiday music collection! Pa rum pa pum pum!
The Smallbone brothers will bring their talents to the stage December 2 through December 19, playing 4 nights in a row at The Grand Old Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. Don’t miss the chance to experience the power of this performance!
ORDER: “A Drummer Boy Christmas”
GET TICKETS TO: A Drummer Boy Christmas Tour
Elton John: “Step Into Christmas”
Elton John’s “Step Into Christmas” has become a timeless and enduring holiday classic, adding a touch of musical magic to holiday celebrations worldwide.
Originally released in 1973, Elton John’s festive single peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Christmas Singles chart in the US. In 2023, exactly fifty years after its release, the single was certified Triple Platinum by the BPI.
In 2024, Elton unveiled a brand-new video that reimagines the making of the original promo. The gloriously kitsch music video stars British actress and model Cara Delevingne as Elton, portraying the chaos and humour of a frantic production team trying to make the set “Christmassy enough.”
Between wrangling an escaped turkey, missing a real reindeer, and fending off fans, Cara perfectly channels Elton’s iconic moves and expressions, paying playful homage to the original video. A lifelong Elton fan, Delevingne fulfilled a personal dream in this role, stepping—quite literally—into her friend’s high-heeled boots for a joyful and affectionate tribute to one of the most enduring holiday songs of all time.
Written with longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin, “Step Into Christmas” truly captures the joy and spirit of the holiday season in Elton’s unique and inimitable style.
ORDER: “Step Into Christmas”
Lady A: “On This Winter’s Night ~ Volume Two”
Grammy-winning trio Lady A just released their first full holiday album in over a decade.
The cozy mix of 11 sparkling singalongs, instant-favorite originals, modern-take classics and timeless tradition are all packaged in warm harmony in “On This Winter’s Night Volume Two”.
It features stirring collaborations with friends like Ricky Skaggs on“Why We Sing Noel”, Chris Tomlin lends his voice on “Silent Night,” and the trio’s take on “O Holy Night” rings in hallowed harmony.
Lady A will also share Christmas magic with their first-ever holiday tour.
This Winter’s Night Tour kicks off December 5th in Atlanta delivering 12 festive nights of music and magic across the US, with a special three-night run at Nashville’s legendary Ryman Auditorium, December 21, 22 & 23.
VISIT: Lady A
for tour and music information
Straight No Chaser: “Holiday Road”
My guys have done it again! Walt, Jerome, Michael, Seggie and the gang have recorded another astounding holiday album, aptly named, “Holiday Road”.
My a cappella pals have been recording all summer long and are now delivering the goods. "Holiday Road" includes 14 masterpieces including “Christmas is Different,” ft. 5x Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling, Hunter Hayes.
The 9-member group, originally formed in the early 90’s at Indiana University, have taken a cappella to heights never imagined.
Their viral favorite, “12 Days of Christmas” propelled them to universal stardom and now they sprinkle their magic across the cosmos with brand new arrangements coming faster than you can say, “five golden rings”!
