A Special Connection
Country music and Christmas share a special connection. Both are deeply rooted in tradition, storytelling, and the importance of home. While pop music often focuses on the glitter and the party, country music isn’t afraid to explore the full spectrum of holiday emotions—from the warmth of family gatherings to the loneliness of a blue winter night.
If you are looking to add some southern soul to your holiday rotation, these are the top 10 definitive country Christmas songs you need to hear.
The List
1. If We Make It Through December – Merle Haggard: Often cited as the definitive country Christmas song, Merle Haggard’s masterpiece eschews sleigh bells for gritty realism. It is a poignant look at economic hardship and the struggle to keep spirits high when times are tough. It captures the true blue-collar experience of the holidays better than any other track in history.
2. Hard Candy Christmas – Dolly Parton: While it technically comes from the musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Dolly Parton made this a holiday standard. It is bittersweet yet undeniably hopeful. The song is an anthem for finding strength and simple joys—like “hard candy”—when life forces you to make a fresh start during the festive season.
3. Blue Christmas – Elvis Presley: You cannot have a country Christmas list without the King. While many have covered it, Elvis’s rendition is a timeless standard with a deep country and rockabilly soul. His crooning vocals make this the ultimate track for anyone missing a special someone during the holidays.
4. Christmas in Dixie – Alabama: This track is a warm, nostalgic ode to celebrating the holidays in the American South. From Fort Payne, Alabama to Memphis, Tennessee, the band delivers rich harmonies and regional charm that make listeners feel like they are driving home on a snowy southern road.
5. Pretty Paper – Willie Nelson: Though originally written by Nelson and made famous by Roy Orbison, Willie’s own version is the heartbreaking, quintessential country take on the season. It tells the story of a street vendor selling paper and pencils, reminding us to notice those who might be struggling while the rest of the world rushes by.
6. Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy – Buck Owens: For a change of pace, Buck Owens brings the fun with this honky-tonk novelty classic. It captures the playful, slightly suspicious imagination of a child spying on Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. It is lighthearted, catchy, and full of the Bakersfield Sound.
7. A Holly Jolly Christmas – Burl Ives: Burl Ives may not be strictly defined as a country artist, but his folksy, simple, and friendly acoustic style has been embraced by the genre as an absolute staple. It is impossible to hear this song without smiling; it is the sound of pure, unadulterated holiday cheer.
8. Christmas Cookies – George Strait: The King of Country delivers a sweet, simple, and charmingly festive song about the importance of holiday treats. George Strait’s smooth vocals make this an easy-listening favorite that celebrates the traditions—and the calories—that make the season delicious.
9. Where Are You Christmas? – Faith Hill: A soaring, emotional power ballad from the How The Grinch Stole Christmas soundtrack, this song perfectly captures the feeling of lost holiday magic. Faith Hill’s powerful delivery resonates with anyone trying to recapture the wonder they felt as a child.
10. Let It Be Christmas – Alan Jackson: This is a modern classic that perfectly blends Jackson’s traditional country sound with a beautiful, heartfelt message. It focuses on the true meaning of the season, stripping away the commercialism to reveal a wish for peace and love that lasts all year round.
The Verdict
Whether you are looking for the honky-tonk energy of Buck Owens or the emotional depth of Merle Haggard, this playlist covers the essential ground of a country Christmas. Queue these up, pour some eggnog, and enjoy the holidays.
