Music brings Christmas home for the holidays
By Preshias Harris
Now it’s really beginning to feel a lot like Christmas! Music will always be part of Christmas and certain songs instantly conjure up childhood memories that stay with us throughout our lives. Here’s a roundup of some Christmas music news that might create some new memories for you and your family. Scroll down for info on Opry Country Christmas, O.N.E. The Duo, Mikayla Lane, Craig Campbell, Drew Aldridge, Chris Isaak and Opry NextStage.
Opry Country Christmas returns to Grand Ole Opry House
The Grand Ole Opry® has kicked off Nashville’s newest holiday tradition with the return of Opry Country Christmas at the Grand Ole Opry House. Hosted by Grammy®-winning Opry member Larry Gatlin, Opry Country Christmas will showcase songs of the holiday season, running on select dates through Dec. 22. Each show features Opry members The Gatlin Brothers, Riders In The Sky, Mandy Barnett and Country Music Hall of Famer Charlie McCoy. Other Opry members, special guests, and spotlight artists will round out the shows made up of artists’ original songs and timeless Christmas favorites. Spotlight Artists for this year’s run include Lauren Alaina (Dec. 1), Scotty McCreery (Dec. 4), Steven Curtis Chapman (Dec. 8); Chris Janson (Dec. 11), Josh Turner and Chris Young (Dec 15), Lorrie Morgan (Dec. 21), and Ricky Skaggs (Dec. 22). Additional artists scheduled for various Opry Country Christmas shows include John Berry, Jason Crabb, Louise Mandrell, Kathy Mattea, Jeannie Seely, and Rhonda Vincent. Tickets are on-sale now here starting at $55.00.
“Happy Holiday With Me” from mom/daughter duo
O.N.E The Duo, Music City’s own mother-daughter Country/Americana duo (Tekitha and Prana Supreme), are ringing in the Christmas spirit with “Happy Holiday With Me,” via a new music video out now. Inspired by Mariah Carey’s iconic “All I Want For Christmas Is You” video, the clip is reminiscent of a vintage candid home video. The song can also be found on their new holiday EP O.N.E Very Merry Christmas, available here. “Christmas, and the holiday season in general, is my favorite time of year and that’s really what I wanted to capture for this video. Growing up, my family didn’t really celebrate Christmas in the traditional way, so it was fun to create those moments for this song,” says Prana Supreme — daughter of Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA and Wu-Tang vocalist Tekitha — who wrote “Happy Holiday With Me” with her mom, Nash Overstreet, and Shane Stevens. Directed by Brandon Vestal, the festive clip features the duo celebrating some of their favorite Christmas traditions like baking apple pie together, while Ron Zamber (Chairman and Founding Partner, Visionary Media Group and Private Equity Group Partner) makes a cameo as Santa Claus. More info here.
Mikayla Lane shares version of “Silent Night”
Rising artist Mikayla Lane radiates the spirit of Christmas with the release of her melodic rendition of “Silent Night,” available everywhere now here . “I chose to record this song because I love the message,” Mikayla shared. “While I love fun Christmas songs that get you excited for the presents, traditions and everything that comes with Christmas, ‘Silent Night’ has a great message and reminds everyone of the whole point of Christmas and why it even exists.” The emerging songstress is also an avid western lifestyle enthusiast and recently forged a partnership with the authentic western wear trendsetters of Alamo Saddlery in Del Rio, TX. Mikayla has come on as a brand ambassador for Alamo to design and launch her exclusive line of high-end leather handbags, which will be available early 2023. Her newest single, “Ambush,” was released on July 29 and debuted at No. 1 on OneRPM’s “Country Bound” playlist on Spotify and also landed on CMT’s “The Round Up” playlist on Spotify and Apple Music. More about Mikayla Lane on Facebook, on Instagram (@mikaylalanemusic) and Twitter (@mikaylalaneband).
Craig Campbell’s daughters continue family tradition
Craig Campbell and his family released a wonderful version of “White Christmas” last year, and this year he enlisted his talented daughters, Preslee and Kinni, to record the modern classic “Mary Did You Know.” Written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene, the Campbells’ beautiful rendition available now on Grindstone Records. Listen here. “It’s always super special to go into the studio with my two girls Preslee and Kinni and this time is no different,” said Craig. “The girls picked this song and it was the perfect one for us to record! We hope y’all love it as much as we loved recording it!” Craig and his wife Mindy opened Grindstone Cowboy Coffee Shop in Eagleville, Tennessee earlier this year, and they will be hosting two sold-out Christmas concerts at the intimate venue December 17 and 18 as part of the regular Songs from the Stone music series. Craig has been dropping hints about recording his own new music, and announcements will be made in the coming weeks with details about his plans for 2023. Updates at https://www.craigcampbell.tv/, on Facebook and Instagram and Twitter (@craigcampbelltv).
Drew Baldridge celebrates “The Best Gift for Christmas”
Independent powerhouse Drew Baldridge has released “The Best Gift for Christmas,” a brand-new original Christmas song dedicated to his baby boy due this month. Written by Baldridge alongside Jimmy Yeary and Nick Schwarz and produced by Nick Schwarz, “The Best Gift for Christmas” reflects on Baldridge’s Christmas memories from childhood as well as what he’s looking forward to most this Christmas – the birth of his first child. Listen to the song here. “This song means so much to me and my family,” said Baldridge. “We can’t wait to meet our little boy soon and get to have a very special first Christmas with him!” The music video for “The Best Gift for Christmas,” edited by Derek James, features some of Baldridge’s personal home videos around Christmastime intercut with studio footage shot by Mike Rodway. Watch the heartwarming music video here. More information here.
Chris Isaak’s Christmas album pressed in candy cane colors
Celebrate the season with Chris Isaak and his brand new Christmas album Everybody Knows It’s Christmas.Out now on vinyl and CD, this festive album features eight original songs written by Chris Isaak including “Almost Christmas,” which captures the excitement right before the holiday — and his versions of five classic Christmas songs. Pressed in red and white candy cane swirl vinyl, the album also features artwork illustrated by Chris Isaak himself. The album is also available on all digital streaming platforms. Get the album here. Isaak has launched the 18-city Everybody Knows It’s Christmas Tour across the United States running throughout the season until December 22nd. The new album was recorded at the iconic RCA Studio in Nashville and was produced by Dave Cobb. This is Isaak’s second career holiday album since his chart-topping 2004 Christmas on Warner Bros. Records. Isaak recently shared track-by-track stories behind each song on the album on both Spotify’s Sun Records Stories and Pandora Stories. “I felt like a holiday album was a great opportunity to bring people together this year. I had so much fun making this album and designing the cover,” Isaak said. More here.
Opry NextStage Live showcases rising talent
The Grand Ole Opry celebrated its second annual Opry NextStage Live In Concert on Nov. 20, with performances by select members from the 2022 NextStage class. The star-studded group included BRELAND, Restless Road, Elvie Shane, Conner Smith and Nate Smith. Highlights from the evening include Conner Smith’s standing ovation for his song “Dear Grand Ole Opry” which he quoted on stage as being “a love song to the Grand Ole Opry” as well as Elvie Shane’s performance of his platinum record, “My Boy.” The crowd also received special performances by the host of the evening, platinum selling NextStage alumna, Priscilla Block as well as fellow NextStage alumna and 2022 Grammy nominee, Hailey Whitters, who sang her chart topping single, “Everything She Ain’t.” The NextStage Live In Concert event is an opportunity to showcase some of country music’s top rising stars who have been a part of the NextStage artist discovery program. The complete Opry NextStage 2022 class included BRELAND, Callista Clark, Restless Road, Elvie Shane, Conner Smith, Nate Smith and Morgan Wade. More about Opry NextStage here.
For more seasonal music news, see the Holiday edition of my column, Inside Track on Music Row, here in the 2022 Holiday Guide issue of Nashville Music Guide.
Preshias Harris is a music journalist and music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available here. Follow her blog and read her regular ‘Preshias On The Row’ news stories at Center Stage Magazine.