Top 10 Country Christmas Albums

Country music at Christmas can be joyful, meaningful, and just plain fun, as country musicians do what they do best, be themselves. There are a few Christmas albums by Country artists that don't sound "country". You won't find any of those on this list. Starting with what I believe to be the best Country Christmas album of all time, these are my favorites. There are two songs I need to mention, "Christmas in Dixie" by Alabama and "Hard Candy Christmas", by Dolly Parton. If this were a list of the best songs rather than albums, I feel compelled to mention that those would be near the top. I love Dolly, and would have put her on my list if the rest of her Christmas album would have been better.

1. An Old Time Christmas: Randy Travis
"White Christmas makes me Blue" is a favorite for most people on this album, released in 1998. Randy makes every song his own on this album, with his special voice and trademark turn of a phrase. It's classic Travis, classic country and classic Christmas all wrapped up into one. I've always thought Randy sounds like Merle Haggard and Perry Como combined.

2. Willie Nelson: Pretty Paper
The title song, "Pretty Paper", was written by Willie Nelson for Roy Orbison in 1965. Thirteen years later, in 1978, Willie recorded it on this album and it has been a favorite ever since. Willie combines his laid back singing style and outlaw country reputation with a Booker T's masterful production (Booker also produced Stardust). Nelson is a hero of mine with his busted up nylon string guitar, barely controlled outlaw persona, and utterly unique ballad singing style.

3. 20th Century Masters: The Christmas Collection - The Best of: Statler Brothers
The sound of the Statler Brothers IS the sound of traditional country gospel, and it doesn't get any better than country gospel at Christmas. This compilation album was released in 2004 but has songs from their first two Christmas albums, Christmas Card and Christmas Present. "I Never Spend a Christmas That I Don't Think of You" is classic Statlers in the very best sense, as is "The Carols Those Kids Used to Sing". I remember listening to these guys as a child. What a gift to us all.

4. Reba McIntyre: Secret of Giving: A Christmas Collection
This is Reba being Reba, and nobody was bigger in the 1980's and 90's. This album was recorded in 1999 and over the years "Mary Did you Know" continues to be requested for radio play at Christmas, along with "I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus". There aren't many country music fans who don't like Reba.

5. Vince Gill: Let There Be Peace On Earth
As with all of Gill's music, his outstanding voice is the main attraction once again on this 1993 release. Vince comes as close to church-house worship as any Country Christmas album on this list when he sings a nearly prayerful "What Child is This", and "Do You Hear What I Hear". Oh what I would give to sing like Vince, just for one day. His "Nobody Answered" is second on my all-time favorite country songs list.

6. Alan Jackson: Honky Tonk Christmas
From Vince Gill's sublime to Alan Jackson's reality. Some might think that "Honky Tonk Christmas" is an oxymoron, but Jackson shows us exactly how to mix the two, and he does it better than anyone. "It's gonna be a honky tonk Christmas, but I'll be over you by New Years Eve": If those aren't beer drinking, juke box playing, boot scootin words with music to match, I don't know what is, and believe me, I know. Recorded in 1993, the album still makes me want to sing along on some songs and get up and dance on others.

7. Ricky Skaggs: A Skaggs Family Christmas
You can't go wrong if it says Skaggs on the cover. Real Bluegrass roots clear back to Bill Monroe and Doc Watson, Ricky is country through and through, and it shows on this family album recorded in 2005. This is true family and true country with a variety of performers near and dear to Ricky's heart. Of course Ricky's rendition of "Let it Snow" gets a lot of attention, but "Christmas Time is Here" is surprisingly touching for those who recall Charlie Brown's Christmas.

8. Dwight Yoakim: Come On Christmas
Just when you thought Garth and company were going to overwhelm all traces of traditional country sound, along came Dwight and rescued us all. Maybe a bit strong, but are you positive Dwight and Buck Owens aren't related? You should wait and answer that after you listen to "Away in a Manger" or "Run Run Rudolph", two country Christmas songs that aren't tying to be anything but country. God bless you Dwight.

9. Emmylou Harris - Light of the Stable
The sweetest voice this side of heaven, her fans don't just love her, they're IN love with her. When it's time to choose an album to play while trimming the tree, this would be a good choice. Who else could assemble an eclectic group like Dolly Parton, Neil Young, Willie Nelson, and Linda Ronstadt just by asking? Recorded in 1972, the title track is still beloved, as is "Angel Eyes".

10. Johnny Cash: The Christmas Spirit
Be honest, can you leave Johnny Cash off a list like this one? Released in 1996, there are still things nobody can do better than John Cash, like telling a story about hard times. Two stories on this album "The Ballad of the Harp Weaver" and "Here Was a Man" are as good as any of Johnny's work. The sound of this man's voice will forever take me to another time and another place.

http://www.randytravis.com/old-time-christmas-0
http://www.amazon.com/Pretty-Paper-Willie-Nelson/dp/B0000025HB
http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/6769004/a/Christmas+Collection:+20th+Century+Masters.htm
http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,872280,00.html
http://www.amazon.com/Let-There-Be-Peace-Earth/dp/B000002OP6
http://www.amazon.com/Honky-Tonk-Christmas-Alan-Jackson/dp/B000002VNK
http://www.amazon.com/Skaggs-Family-Christmas-Various-Artists/dp/B000B8I8VO
http://www.amazon.com/Come-Christmas-Dwight-Yoakam/dp/B000002NH4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1260449154&sr=1-1-spell
http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Album-Stable-Emmylou-Harris/dp/B000002KLT
http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Spirit-Johnny-Cash/dp/B000002YTE