Top 10 Country Christmas Songs

Christmas is just around the corner. It's time to start planning for all the Christmas parties and family gatherings. Nothing brings people together better than the perfect Christmas music and some of the best Christmas recordings you will find are performed by Country music singers. Whether it is a traditional Christmas song performed country music style or a new selection all their own, no one gives a song more heart and warmth than a country music performer. The following list of Country Christmas music is just a sample of the songs that you can find to get in the holiday spirit with friends and family.

The Angels Cried by Alan Jackson and Alison Krauss. This song comes from Alan Jackson's first Christmas album "Honky Tonk Christmas." You will love the way Alan and Alison bring the story of the nativity to life in this beautiful duet.

Oh Holy Night by Martina McBride. This is from Martina's "White Christmas Holiday Album." No one in country music can hit the high notes with the clearness and clarity of Martina and she shows that off in her rendition of this traditional Christmas Hymn.

Christmas Shoes sung by Christian performer Bob Carlisle is sure to win the hearts of everyone who hears it. This sweet but extremely sad song tells the story of a young boy who wants nothing for Christmas but to buy his sick Mama some shoes. He wants her to look beautiful when she meets Jesus. Unfortunately, the little boy doesn't have enough money for the shoes but a stranger, who is just going through the motions of Christmas, is touched by the little boy's story and buys the shoes for him. It's a tear jerker for sure so have a few holiday tissues around when you and your family listen and learn the true meaning of Christmas-giving and doing for others.

The Christmas Guest is a song from Reba McEntire's 1987 Christmas album "Merry Christmas to You." The song was written by Grandpa Jones, his wife, Ramona and Bill Walker. This song tells the story of a man who has worked all day preparing for a visit from Jesus but by late in the evening he still has not come. But little does the man know that the three visitors he has had during the day were all visits from Jesus. When Jesus finally does come and the man ask him why he took so long, Jesus explains that he has already visited him three times in the form of the man's three visitors. Jesus tells him that he has done well and that he is worthy of his love because he showed these three strangers the same kindness he would have shown Jesus.

I'll be Home for Christmas. This is a beautiful version of the song originally on Elvis' Christmas album but with Carrie Underwood performing with him. It is amazing to me what they can do with new technology. This song makes Elvis come to life as he and Carrie Underwood put their two unique voices together. I cry whenever I hear this song because I think of my daughter who lives thousands of miles away across the ocean and for many years has been with us in heart and soul only.

Baby its Cold Outside. This song takes us to the lighter side of Christmas, to love and romance in front of a crackling fire on a cold winter's night. I always think of the movie "Elf" when I hear this song, but the version I am recommending is the one sung by the explosive country group, Lady Antebellum. If you are a fan of Lady Antebellum, you won't want to miss their rendition of this wonderful holiday song.
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Santa Baby is another great party song. My favorite version is by an American Idol contestant who has done very well for herself in the country field, Kellie Pickler. Kellie can lighten up any room and her version of this song is no exception.

Jingle Bell Rock by Rascal Flatts. The group released this and two other Christmas songs as a bonus track on their 2008 Greatest Hits album. Rascal Flatts could sing the phone book to me and it would sound like heaven and this song is no exception. They add the typical country twang to this song that lets you know right away that it is pure country. If you are feeling down around the holidays, turn this song on and watch the blues fly away.

Hard Candy Christmas by Dolly Parton. Dolly performs this in the movie "Best Little Whore House in Texas." She and the other "ladies" of the house sing this as they are getting ready to pack up and leave. The song tells of the things they can do instead of what they have been doing but whatever it is they decide to do, they know that they will be just fine. Dolly performs this song in typical Dolly style and it hit the top 10 country charts when she released it in 1982. Dolly just has a sound that no other performer has ever been able to copy and like all songs by Dolly you can feel her whole heart and soul in the song.

What Child is this. This song is my number one song in any genre. The song that reminds us why we are celebrating Christmas and no one sings the story better than, what I consider American Idol's only success, Carrie Underwood. If you love Carrie and most country fans do, then you will want to purchase Carrie's version of this wonderful Christmas hymn.

sources: http://countrymusic.about.com
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