Pick Your Favorite Country Christmas Versions

[sabre14]

Easy. Copy the list below and insert your favorite Country artist version of these Christmas classics. If there's some more you would like to add to the list, go for it! :)

"The Christmas Song" ()
"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" ()
"White Christmas" ()
"Winter Wonderland" ()
"Jingle Bell Rock" ()
"Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" ()
"Frosty The Snowman" ()
"O Holy Night" ()
"Little Drummer Boy" ()
"Silver Bells" ()
"Do You Hear What I Hear" ()
"Jingle Bells" ()
"Feliz Navidad" ()
"Please Come For Christmas" ()
"I'll Be Home For Christmas" ()
"What Child Is This?" ()
"New Kid In Town" ()
"Go Tell It On The Mountain" ()
"Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" ()
"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" ()
"Away In A Manger" ()
"Blue Christmas" ()
"Holly Jolly Christmas" ()
"Santa Baby" ()
"Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" ()
"Run Rudolph Run" ()
"Mary, Did You Know?" ()
"Sleigh Ride" ()
"It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" ()
"Let It Snow" ()
"The First Noel" ()
"Silent Night" ()

[d3vin44]

"The Christmas Song" (Jo Dee Messina)
"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" (Lady Antebellum)
"White Christmas" (Sara Evans)
"Winter Wonderland" (Sara Evans)
"Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" (Brenda Lee)
"O Holy Night" (Sara Evans)
"Little Drummer Boy" (Lonestar)
"Silver Bells" (Jo Dee Messina)
"Do You Hear What I Hear" (Carrie Underwood)
"Feliz Navidad" (Kacey Musgraves)
"I'll Be Home For Christmas" (Sara Evans, Kelly Clarkson) Too close to call
"Go Tell It On The Mountain" (Sara Evans) LOVE
"Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" (Lonestar)
"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" (Martina McBride)
"Away In A Manger" (Martina McBride)
"Blue Christmas" (Martina and Elvis duet)
"Santa Baby" (Kellie Pickler)
"Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" (Alan Jackson)
"Run Rudolph Run" (Kelly Clarkson) I know I know, not technically country and its the Run Run Rudolph version
"Mary, Did You Know?" (Kathy Mattea)
"Carol of the Bells" (Leann Rimes) Love this!

And here are a couple classic original songs that I LOVE. They both tug at my heart strings... lol

"Christmas Shoes" (Alabama)
"Christmas Carol" (Skip Ewing)

[Ten Pound Hammer]

Most versions of these songs sound exactly the same regardless of artist, and I don't know why so many artists continue to inundate us with soundalikes.

"Jingle Bell Rock" (Any version that says "Jinglin' beat" instead of "jinglin' feet". The latter makes no sense, and it causes "feet" to rhyme with itself. Yes, I know the original version had "jinglin' feet" in it, but that's no reason not to change what's so obviously a goof.)

"Jingle Bells" (What was SHeDAISY thinking with that funeral dirge version they did on their Christmas album? So boring and unfitting. Also, does "Rusty Chevrolet" count as a version of this song? Because I like that.)

"Feliz Navidad" (OH GOD NO. This song is the most annoyingly repetitive anything in the history of ever.)

"Please Come For Christmas" (Any version. This is probably my favorite Christmas song.)

"What Child Is This?" (4 Runner, definitely 4 Runner)

"Away In A Manger" (Haven't heard any country stars do it, but I wonder: do all of them use the "Mueller" melody?)

"Santa Baby" (Can't stand this one either, because literally EVERYONE does it in that squawky Betty Boop voice)

"Sleigh Ride" (Any version that has the "Birthday party at the home of Farmer Grey" part. I remember I didn't know about that part for a long time because so many artists left it out, but I can't think of the last time I haven't heard that verse.)

Nov 25, 2016 17:24:19 GMT -5 d3vin44 said:

"Christmas Shoes" (Alabama)

When did Alabama do this song? The only versions I know are NewSong and 3 of Hearts.

[d3vin44]

I've only listened to it on YouTube and the video I clicked says "Alabama" as artist. I suppose that may be labeled wrong.

[sabre14]

Nov 25, 2016 17:24:19 GMT -5 d3vin44 said:

"Christmas Carol" (Skip Ewing)

I only did classic covers but this one has always been in my top 5 all-time favorite Country Christmas songs. :)

Nov 25, 2016 21:03:54 GMT -5 Ten Pound Hammer said:

"Away In A Manger" (Haven't heard any country stars do it, but I wonder: do all of them use the "Mueller" melody?)

I've heard a few do it but I've always enjoyed Blaine Larsen's.

"Santa Baby" (Can't stand this one either, because literally EVERYONE does it in that squawky Betty Boop voice)

Somewhat agreed. Kellie Pickler's version is that way but she pulls it off...my favorite remains Taylor Swift's -- takes more of an upbeat, fun stylistic approach but given her then age, I think it works totally.

"Sleigh Ride" (Any version that has the "Birthday party at the home of Farmer Grey" part. I remember I didn't know about that part for a long time because so many artists left it out, but I can't think of the last time I haven't heard that verse.)

Both of my favorite versions have this line (Jo Dee Messina and Lorrie Morgan). Some don't have this lyric?

[sabre14]

"The Christmas Song" (Martina McBride)
"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" (Martina McBride)
"White Christmas" (George Strait)
"Winter Wonderland" (Pat Green)
"Jingle Bell Rock" (Randy Travis)
"Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" (Julianne Hough)
"Frosty The Snowman" (George Strait)
"O Holy Night" (John Berry)
"Little Drummer Boy" (Lonestar)
"Silver Bells" (Martina McBride)
"Do You Hear What I Hear" (Carrie Underwood)
"Jingle Bells" (Alan Jackson)
"Feliz Navidad" (Clay Walker)
"Please Come For Christmas" (Gary Allan)
"I'll Be Home For Christmas" (Rascal Flatts)
"What Child Is This?" (Kenny Rogers with Wynonna)
"New Kid In Town" (Keith Whitley)
"Go Tell It On The Mountain" (Little Big Town)
"Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" (Brooks & Dunn)
"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" (Carrie Underwood)
"Away In A Manger" (Blaine Larsen)
"Blue Christmas" (Elvis)
"Holly Jolly Christmas" (Alan Jackson)
"Santa Baby" (Taylor Swift)
"Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" (George Strait)
"Run Rudolph Run" (Luke Bryan)
"Mary, Did You Know?" (Kathy Mattea)
"Sleigh Ride" (Jo Dee Messina)
"It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" (Garth Brooks)
"Let It Snow" (Joe Nichols)
"The First Noel" (Carrie Underwood/Rebecca Lynn Howard -- tie)
"Silent Night" (Sara Evans)

Added a few more, lol. It was probably smarter to hold off on this thread until I got on my PC...

[Ten Pound Hammer]

Nov 26, 2016 0:32:12 GMT -5 sabre14 said:

I've heard a few do it but I've always enjoyed Blaine Larsen's.

For reference, Blaine's version uses the tune "Mueller", which is how most people sing it in the US. Most other countries use another melody called "Cradle Song" instead. I didn't know "Cradle Song" existed until I started playing organ at an Episcopalian church, whose hymnal has only "Cradle Song". I just play "Mueller" instead whenever it comes up, and no one is the wiser.

Nov 26, 2016 0:32:12 GMT -5 sabre14 said:

Both of my favorite versions have this line (Jo Dee Messina and Lorrie Morgan). Some don't have this lyric?

Yeah, I've heard some renditions that take out that whole Farmer Gray verse entirely, but I can't think of any off the top of my head. I think Lorrie Morgan's version actually was the first version I ever heard that did include it.

"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" is another case like that. Some versions at least have the "rooty toot toots" verse, but others just repeat the first verse over and over. There's an intro to the song that almost never shows up ("I just came back from a lovely trip along the Milky Way...") and another later verse ("Now Santa is a busy man, He has no time to play...") that shows up after the rooty toot toots, but I have never heard those in any version.

The same is true of "Winter Wonderland". It has a slower intro that begins with "Over the ground lies a mantle of white...", which appears on the Judds' version but few others. The verse about "and pretend that he's a circus clown" was a later addition intended to replace the Parson Brown verse. But every version I've heard that has circus clown also has Parson Brown anyway.

(On the subject of "Winter Wonderland" covers -- Brad Paisley's sucks. The Jim Ed Brown name-drop was cute, but there's no energy or life to his singing at all. It just sounds so flat and lifeless. On the other hand, Brooks & Dunn's take is excellent.)

[someguy]

Nov 26, 2016 1:03:56 GMT -5 Ten Pound Hammer said:

"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" is another case like that. Some versions at least have the "rooty toot toots" verse, but others just repeat the first verse over and over. There's an intro to the song that almost never shows up ("I just came back from a lovely trip along the Milky Way...") and another later verse ("Now Santa is a busy man, He has no time to play...") that shows up after the rooty toot toots, but I have never heard those in any version.

Wynonna's has the intro, but not the latter verse (and is probably my favourite rendition of this, with Faith Hill a close second). I'll do my full list later.

[phil1996]

I couldn't name all of my favorite renditions, but I've always been a huge huge fan of Chris Young's cover of "O Holy Night"

[someguy]

A few songs I've listed more than one artist, and a few non-country versions as well. I also added a few more songs (so basically, I broke all of the rules, lol).

Also, if you're looking for 'classic' versions of a lot of Christmas standards, Martina McBride is the go to artist, imo.

"The Christmas Song" (Martina McBride)
"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" (Kelly Clarkson; Martina McBride)
"White Christmas" (Michael Buble & Shania Twain; Garth Brooks; Kelly Clarkson)
"Winter Wonderland" (Faith Hill)
"Jingle Bell Rock" (Blake Shelton & Miranda Lambert)
"Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" (Brenda Lee)
"Frosty The Snowman" (LeAnn Rimes)
"O Holy Night" (Martina McBride)
"Little Drummer Boy" (Faith Hill - not a fan of this in general though)
"Silver Bells" (Martina McBride)
"Do You Hear What I Hear" (Martina McBride; Carrie Underwood)
"Jingle Bells" (Reba McEntire; SHeDAISY - surprisingly, not too many artists record this)
"Feliz Navidad" (Celine Dion)
"Please Come For Christmas" (Vonda Shepard; Kelly Clarkson)
"I'll Be Home For Christmas" (Kelly Clarkson; Martina McBride; Wynonna)
"What Child Is This?" (Martina McBride; Faith Hill)
"New Kid In Town" (Trisha Yearwood)
"Go Tell It On The Mountain" (Sheryl Crow)
"Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" (Wynonna; Faith Hill)
"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" (Carrie Underwood)
"Away In A Manger" (The Judds)
"Blue Christmas" (Celine Dion)
"Holly Jolly Christmas" (Faith Hill)
"Santa Baby" (Taylor Swift; Michael Buble)
"Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" (Gene Autry)
"Run Run Rudolph" (Kelly Clarkson)
"Mary, Did You Know?" (Reba McEntire)
"Sleigh Ride" (Lorrie Morgan; Jo Dee Messina)
"It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" (Garth Brooks; Michael Buble)
"Let It Snow" (Trisha Yearwood)
"The First Noel" (Faith Hill & Josh Groban)
"Silent Night" (Kelly Clarkson w/ Reba & Trisha)

"Joy To The World" (Faith Hill)
"Baby, It's Cold Outside" (Lee Ann Womack & Harry Connick Jr.; Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood)
"All I Want For Christmas Is You" (Mariah Carey of course, but also: Jennifer Nettles; Michael Buble)
"Hard Candy Christmas" (Dolly Parton; Reba McEntire; Trisha Yearwood)
"Must Be Santa" (LeAnn Rimes)
"Up On The Housetop" (Reba McEntire)
"Nuttin' For Christmas" (Sugarland; Rosie O'Donnell & Smash Mouth)
"Song For A Winter's Night" (Sarah McLachlan)
"River" (Sarah McLachlan; Vonda Shepard)
"What Are You Doing New Year's Eve" (Trisha Yearwood; Vonda Shepard)
"The Man With The Bag" (Trisha Yearwood; Vonda Shepard; Lee Ann Womack)

[sabre14]

Nov 27, 2016 0:29:57 GMT -5 someguy said:

"Nuttin' For Christmas" (Sugarland; Rosie O'Donnell & Smash Mouth)

Agreed on Sugarland's version being great...

...and what might be the first ever Smash Mouth mention in this forum -- or at least this sub-board, lol.

[someguy]

Nov 27, 2016 0:34:40 GMT -5 sabre14 said:

Nov 27, 2016 0:29:57 GMT -5 someguy said:

"Nuttin' For Christmas" (Sugarland; Rosie O'Donnell & Smash Mouth)

Agreed on Sugarland's version being great...

...and what might be the first ever Smash Mouth mention in this forum -- or at least this sub-board, lol.

Haha yeah probably. And Rosie O'Donnell too for that matter. Their version is great though, you should check it out, lol.

[bboat11]

Nov 27, 2016 0:29:57 GMT -5 someguy said:

Also, if you're looking for 'classic' versions of a lot of Christmas standards, Martina McBride is the go to artist, imo.

I know I'm biased, but I completely agree about this. I usually think Christmas albums are good, but nothing puts me in the holiday spirit quite as much as White Christmas. The vocals are absolutely perfect, as well as the instrumental and choral arrangements. When I listen to this album, I cannot believe it is from the late '90s, because it still sounds absolutely fresh and modern!

Also, I just have to add, I love the Christmas season because it is the only time of year where I consistently hear Martina McBride in random places. She's always on the radio, on the speakers at whatever store I'm at, in other peoples' cars, etc. I cannot list many other Christmas albums that have as much consistent cross-genre appeal as hers!

[someguy]

Nov 27, 2016 2:09:30 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

Nov 27, 2016 0:29:57 GMT -5 someguy said:

Also, if you're looking for 'classic' versions of a lot of Christmas standards, Martina McBride is the go to artist, imo.

I know I'm biased, but I completely agree about this. I usually think Christmas albums are good, but nothing puts me in the holiday spirit quite as much as White Christmas. The vocals are absolutely perfect, as well as the instrumental and choral arrangements. When I listen to this album, I cannot believe it is from the late '90s, because it still sounds absolutely fresh and modern!

Also, I just have to add, I love the Christmas season because it is the only time of year where I consistently hear Martina McBride in random places. She's always on the radio, on the speakers at whatever store I'm at, in other peoples' cars, etc. I cannot list many other Christmas albums that have as much consistent cross-genre appeal as hers!

Yeah man, I completely agree with you. My sister really does not like country music at all, but White Christmas is one of her favourite albums. It is so timeless, and genreless really as well too.

[sabre14]

Nov 27, 2016 2:09:30 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

Nov 27, 2016 0:29:57 GMT -5 someguy said:

Also, if you're looking for 'classic' versions of a lot of Christmas standards, Martina McBride is the go to artist, imo.

I know I'm biased, but I completely agree about this. I usually think Christmas albums are good, but nothing puts me in the holiday spirit quite as much as White Christmas. The vocals are absolutely perfect, as well as the instrumental and choral arrangements. When I listen to this album, I cannot believe it is from the late '90s, because it still sounds absolutely fresh and modern!

Also, I just have to add, I love the Christmas season because it is the only time of year where I consistently hear Martina McBride in random places. She's always on the radio, on the speakers at whatever store I'm at, in other peoples' cars, etc. I cannot list many other Christmas albums that have as much consistent cross-genre appeal as hers!

Nov 27, 2016 2:13:50 GMT -5 someguy said:

Nov 27, 2016 2:09:30 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

I know I'm biased, but I completely agree about this. I usually think Christmas albums are good, but nothing puts me in the holiday spirit quite as much as White Christmas. The vocals are absolutely perfect, as well as the instrumental and choral arrangements. When I listen to this album, I cannot believe it is from the late '90s, because it still sounds absolutely fresh and modern!

Also, I just have to add, I love the Christmas season because it is the only time of year where I consistently hear Martina McBride in random places. She's always on the radio, on the speakers at whatever store I'm at, in other peoples' cars, etc. I cannot list many other Christmas albums that have as much consistent cross-genre appeal as hers!

Yeah man, I completely agree with you. My sister really does not like country music at all, but White Christmas is one of her favourite albums. It is so timeless, and genreless really as well too.

To me, Martina's renditions of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas", "Silver Bells" and "The Christmas Song" are THE renditions of those songs.

[williamuk]

Interesting test this ! I wasn't able to find a preferred artist for all the songs.  

Have to agree with the previous posters about Martina's White Christmas. Bought the original release in 1998 and have never tired of it. The only song I'm not so fond of is the rather frenetic version of 'Jingle Bells', which appeared in the 2007 version and I feel didn't fit in with the tone of the rest of the album. I noticed that  the track disappeared in the 2013 repackaging entititled The Classic Christmas Album and replaced by 'Blue Christmas', which was the duet with Elvis off his Christmas Duets album.


"The Christmas Song" Trisha Yearwood

"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" Martina McBride

"White Christmas" Martina McBride

"Winter Wonderland" Sammy Kershaw

"Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" Donna Fargo

"Frosty The Snowman" Porter Wagoner

"O Holy Night" Lorrie Morgan

"Little Drummer Boy" Johnny Cash

"Silver Bells" Martina McBride

"Do You Hear What I Hear" Carrie Underwood

"I'll Be Home For Christmas" Reba McEntire

"What Child Is This?" Tanya Tucker

"New Kid In Town" Trisha Yearwood

"Go Tell It On The Mountain" Little Big Town

"Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" Brooks and Dunn

"Away In A Manger" Reba McEntire

"Blue Christmas" KT Oslin

"Holly Jolly Christmas" Alan Jackson

"Santa Baby" Kellie Pickler

"Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" Dolly Parton

"Run Rudolph Run" Sara Evans

"Mary, Did You Know?" Kenny Rogers & Wynonna

"It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" Steve Wariner

"Let It Snow" Charley Pride

"The First Noel" Josh Turner

"Silent Night" Reba McEntire


Other great songs
Take A Walk Through Bethlehem - Trisha Yearwood

Let It Be Christmas - Alan Jackson
The Angels Cried - Alan Jackson/Alison Krauss

On This Winter's Night - Lady Antebellum

All I Want For Christmas Is You - Lady Antebellum

[someguy]

"Take A Walk Through Bethlehem" is such a great song. It's one that I'm shocked hasn't been covered more, and that Trisha's version isn't more widely known.

[Ten Pound Hammer]

Ricochet's version of "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow" tops all others in my book.

[tim]

Nov 26, 2016 0:48:03 GMT -5 sabre14 said:

"O Holy Night" (John Berry)

I can't think of any other country male vocalist that could ever do this song justice!

"The Christmas Song" - George Strait
"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" - Alan Jackson
"White Christmas" - Elvis Presley
"Winter Wonderland" - Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga
"Jingle Bell Rock" - George Strait
"Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" - The Forester Sisters
"Frosty The Snowman" - George Strait
"O Holy Night" - John Berry
"Little Drummer Boy" - Alabama
"Silver Bells" - Alan Jackson
"Do You Hear What I Hear" - Vince Gill; Steve Wariner
"Jingle Bells" - George Strait
"Feliz Navidad" - Clay Walker (the most played version down here in Texas during the holidays)
"Please Come Home For Christmas" - Gary Allan
"I'll Be Home For Christmas" - Elvis Presley
"What Child Is This?" - Vince Gill
"New Kid In Town" - Alan Jackson w/ Keith Whitley
"Go Tell It On The Mountain" - Garth Brooks
"Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" - The Pointer Sisters
"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" - George Strait
"Away In A Manger" - Alan Jackson
"Blue Christmas" - Elvis Presley
"Holly Jolly Christmas" - Burl Ives
"Santa Baby" - Michael Buble (although Mindy McCready's version comes to mind...but I can't stand this song)
"Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" - George Strait
"Run Rudolph Run" - Dwight Yoakam
"Mary, Did You Know?" - Kathy Mattea
"Sleigh Ride" - Lorrie Morgan w/ The New World Philharmonic
"It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" - Andy Williams
"Let It Snow" - George Strait
"The First Noel" - Kenny Rogers
"Silent Night" - Alan Jackson (current version) and Elvis Presley (classic version)

Some other random Christmas favorites:

"Another Angel Gets Its Wings" - Trisha Yearwood and Vince Gill
"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" - Michael Buble
"If Every Day Was Like Christmas" - Elvis Presley
"Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)" - Elvis Presley
"The Light of Christmas Day" - Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
"Merry Christmas Darling" - Carpenters
"New Year's Eve 1999" - Alabama
"O Little Town of Bethlehem" - Alabama
"Once Again It's Christmas" - Kenny Rogers
"Pretty Paper" - Randy Travis
"This Is My Prayer For You" - Reba McEntire

[sabre14]

Bump, in case anyone wanted to do this. :)

[sunburn]

well, many people mentioned a few of these last year but they bear repeating. a few of my favourite versions:

"Do You Hear What I Hear" - Carrie Underwood
"Go Tell It On the Mountain" - Little Big Town
"Deck the Halls" - SHeDAISY

Also, Sugarland's originals on their Christmas album are awesome. "Little Wood Guitar", "City of Silver Dreams", "Coming Home" and "Maybe Baby (New Year's Day)" are all wonderful, and their cover of "Winter Wonderland" is super catchy!

[Ten Pound Hammer]

Ricochet have by far my favorite rendition of "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow":



ETA: I said that already, but who cares. Now you can actually hear it.

[someguy]

Nov 24, 2017 1:23:33 GMT -5 sunburn said:

Also, Sugarland's originals on their Christmas album are awesome. "Little Wood Guitar", "City of Silver Dreams", "Coming Home" and "Maybe Baby (New Year's Day)" are all wonderful, and their cover of "Winter Wonderland" is super catchy!

I so agree. The original songs on Gold and Green are fantastic (especially "Little Wood Guitar"). I also really love their version of "Nuttin' For Christmas".