Luke Combs Loves This More Than Christmas Presents
Luke Combs and his wife Nicole are celebrating their baby boy Tex’s first Christmas this year. No doubt the little guy will have a bunch of Christmas gifts under the…
Luke Combs and his wife Nicole are celebrating their baby boy Tex's first Christmas this year. No doubt the little guy will have a bunch of Christmas gifts under the Christmas tree on Sunday morning (12/25). Nicole already showed off some ornaments on the family's tree, showing the baby's "First Christmas" ornament, on her Insta stories earlier this month.
Looking back to Christmas as a kid growing up in North Carolina, Luke recalls wanting a few big things that did not appear under the tree. When asked about gifts he wished for but did not get, he told us, "Oh, man, all the time. We were lower middle class, you know? So it was like when you're a kid, you always want the new X box or whatever is coming out. You want the new videogame deal." He added, "Around our house, it was like my mom's a great gift giver, you know, and she always made the best out of it, but it was never like, 'Oh, I wanted this thing.' It was always within the scope of reality the gifts you would be getting."
Combs says that gifts are not what he is looking for and loving around Christmas anyway. He told us, "You know what I love more than the presents and stuff... 'cause I grew up in the mountains. I grew up in the mountains of North Carolina. I was born in Ashville and went to college in Boone, which is even more in the mountains. I love the snow and the decorations; I am into that. Like it gets me in the mood for the season and stuff."
Last year around the holidays, Luke told us about a big Christmas gift he did get from his parents one year. He recalled one Christmas as a teenager, getting his own TV. It was perfect for playing video games. He told us about getting the technology at 13, "Me and my buddies would go down there, and they hooked it up to cable so me and my buddies could watch TV down there and play N64 and do all that stuff." He added, "I appreciated the sentiment of my parents giving me my own space and stuff like that was a really awesome thing. And, I think eventually the TV ended up in my bedroom, so… couple years that lasted, and then I wanted to have it in the bedroom."
Here are our 25 favorite country music Christmas songs. We’ve included some newer ones, so hopefully you’ll find some new favorites for your next holiday gathering!
25. “The Christmas Guest” - (1987) Reba McEntire - Merry Christmas To You
MCAThis song was written by Grand Ole Opry star Grandpa Jones and was a fan favorite on Reba’s very first Christmas album.
24. “Feliz Navidad” - (2016) Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood (2016) - Christmas Together
Garth BrooksA Christmas song written and recorded in 1970 by Puerto Rican singer/songwriter José Feliciano. Garth and Trisha sang the song together at Disney Park’s Christmas celebration in 2016.
23. “Glow” – (2021) Kelly Clarkson with Chris Stapleton - When Christmas Comes Around…
AtlanticIt’s a brand new gem from Kelly’s newest Christmas album. Stapleton previously co-wrote a song for Clarkson with Justin Timberlake called “Born To Die” on the soundtrack to the feature film ‘Trolls World Tour.’
22. “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” (2007) Martina McBride - White Christmas (2007 Reissue)
RCAA classic done to perfection. This was on Martina’s second reissue of her 1998 White Christmas album. She kept adding more songs with each reissue.
21. “Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy” (2006) Brad Paisley - Brad Paisley Christmas
AristaA song originally record in 1965 by Buck Owens. A true classic that has been done by Garth Brooks, Travis Tritt and even the cast of Duck Dynasty. Paisley, who was a friend of Buck for years before he died in 2006, does it best.
20. “Frosty the Snowman” (1986) George Strait - Merry Christmas Strait to You
MCAGeorge’s first Christmas album, this classic is pure Strait, a fun version of a song we all know the words to, thanks to Gene Autry.
19. “Run, Run Rudolph” (2008) Luke Bryan
UMGLuke’s take on the Chuck Berry classic. Luke is one country star who has yet to do a whole Christmas album.
18. “Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (feat. Camila Cabello)” Kacey Musgraves (2019) - The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Show
Amazon / UMGA solid version of one of the best Christmas songs of all time. Kacey performed it with Camila on her Amazon holiday TV special.
17. “Winter Wonderland” (2012) Blake Shelton - Cheers, It's Christmas
WBThis song has been covered by so many country stars, but Blake’s is one of the best. Shelton reissued this album in 2017.
16. “O Holy Night” (1998) Martina McBride - White Christmas
RCAOf all the versions of this song, Martina McBride’s 1998 version is still the very best. Which is saying something: the song has been around since 1847.
15. “Mary, Did You Know?” (2020) Dolly Parton – A Holly Dolly Christmas
Dolly RecordsThis was the song Dolly released before the album and her version is so touching. The whole album is nominated for a Grammy at the upcoming 2022 show in January.
14. “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” (2016) Chris Young - It Must Be Christmas
SonyChris Young loves Christmas and a holiday album was on his wish list from the beginning of his career. In 2016, his wish came true and this is the highlight of the project.
13. “Baby It's Cold Outside (feat. Ronnie Dunn)” (2013) Kelly Clarkson - Wrapped In Red
AtlanticKelly’s version with Ronnie Dunn rises to the top as their voices sound so natural together.
12. “The Christmas Song” (1987) Reba McEntire - Merry Christmas To You
MCAYeah, it’s that familiar song and Reba does it better than anyone.
11. “Little Drummer Boy (feat. Isaiah Fisher)” (2020) Carrie Underwood - My Gift
UMGThis song will make anyone smile and hearing Carrie’s young son sing with his mom is just adorable.
10. “Little Saint Nick” (2012) Lady A - On This Winter's Night (Deluxe Version)
UMGCharles Kelley’s singing of this classic Beach Boys Christmas song is infectious. It even holds up to the original.
9. “It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” (2016) Brett Eldredge - Glow
WBThis is only Brett’s third album and timed just right to show everyone just who is “Mr. Christmas” in country music. All the songs on this amazing album are great.
8. “Hell of a Holiday” (2021) Pistol Annies - Hell of a Holiday
RCAThe title track of this brand-new album from the Pistol Annies. This original song might just be a future holiday standard.
7. “Baby, It's Cold Outside (feat. Meghan Trainor)” (2016) Brett Eldredge - Glow
WBYes, we already included a version of this song by Kelly Clarkson and Ronnie Dunn, but Brett and Meghan Trainor’s version is just magical. It would have made Dean Martin proud.
6. “You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” (2014) Darius Rucker - Home For the Holidays
CapitolA fun song and one that is rarely covered. Darius said when the album came out, "I am so excited to finally make a Christmas album. This has been a lifelong dream, and I hope my fans enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed making it."
5. “A Holly Jolly Christmas” (2012) Lady A - On This Winter's Night
UMGOne of my all-time favorite Christmas songs and Lady A’s version of the song is one I put on repeat. Hillary Scott sings with such fun and excitement in her voice on their version. It’s a mood lifter for sure.
4. “I'll Be Your Santa Tonight” (2019) Keith Urban
UMGKeith Urban needs to do a holiday album if all the songs on it will be as good as this Christmas single he released in 2019.
3. “A Christmas to Remember” (1984) Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers - Once Upon a Christmas
RCAAn original song written by Dolly that has become a true classic.
2. “Hallelujah” (2020) Carrie Underwood & John Legend - My Gift
UMGThis song is sung so very beautifully and so was the video that Carrie and John Legend filmed during 2020. The video won a 2021 CMT Music Award.
1. ”You Make It Feel Like Christmas (feat. Blake Shelton)” (2017) Gwen Stefani -You Make It Feel Like Christmas
InterscopeYou can say Gwen isn’t country but with her husband Blake Shelton she has charted two number one country songs. Their voices together and the song’s sweet message are all number one material.
