2025 marks a strong season of new music releases as the Christmas holiday draws near. Though traditional, year-after-year beloved recordings have a unique way of transforming holiday moments into lasting memories, newly-released songs also have a way of infusing the season with fresh emotion.
As people wrap holiday presents, hang holiday lights, visit with friends and/or family, enjoy copious amounts of hot chocolate, peppermint lattes, or other holiday drinks, or simply enjoy the sweet smells of freshly-baked treats, music is often the soundtrack and heartbeat of any holiday activity.
Spanning the genres of country, bluegrass, Americana and Contemporary Christian music, the 2025 holiday season features new releases with a mix of tradition and innovation, songs inclusive of country renditions, Americana-root stringband tracks, bluegrass-leaning music and reflective, faith-driven music. Together, they give fans plenty of new songs to enhance holiday traditions and activities.
This year, several country artists issued new holiday albums or EPs, including Brad Paisley, Mickey Guyton and Trisha Yearwood, fusing country sounds with lyrics that elegantly (or, in many cases, somberly or humorously) describe the details of the holidays.
The Christmas season has long been a hallmark moment for faith-based artists. Among this year’s standout releases are modern holiday music from Forrest Frank with Jvke, as well as songs from The Choir Room, Blessing Offor and Matthew West, continuing the tradition of music that blends celebration, reflection and faith.
Meanwhile, Americana-leaning artists including Old Crow Medicine Show and bluegrass artists including Kristy Cox and The Kody Norris Show also lead the way with original holiday releases.
Below, check out a roundup highlighting 20 new songs (in no particular order) to add to holiday playlists.
Carter Faith & William Beckmann, “Nothin’ for Christmas”
Newcomer Carter Faith, who released her debut album Cherry Valley earlier this year, pairs up with William Beckmann, intertwining their exquisite voices on “Nothin’ For Christmas,” a timeless-sounding, romantic holiday ballad.
Luke Bryan & Ella Langley, “Winter Wonderland”
Two-time CMA entertainer of the year winner Bryan and reigning CMA single and song of the year winner Ella Langley team up for a new spin on the holiday classic “Winter Wonderland.”
Old Crow Medicine Show, “Corn Whiskey Christmas”
Old Crow Medicine Show released the holiday album OCMS XMAS this year, featuring the new song “Corn Whiskey Christmas,” with the video filmed at Santa’s Pub in Nashville. This joyful track centers on a man who brings joy and whiskey to town for the holidays: “Grandpappy’s been brewing since before the war/ And the things he can do with a barrel of corn/ Got a beard so long it makes Santa Claus jealous,” they sing, melding light-hearted lyrics with blazing fiddle and a full-throttle melody.
Matthew West, “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”
CCM artist-writer Matthew West brings a polished version of this holiday classic, with a warm, conversational rendering that makes this rendition feel enduring. The song is from West’s new album, Come Home for Christmas.
Brad Paisley, “Counting Down the Days”
This year, Brad Paisley fans got a fantastic gift with the release of Paisley’s holiday album Snow Globe Town, including this uptempo song that captures the joy and anticipation of the holiday season.
JB Somers, “I Hate Christmas”
In “I Hate Christmas,” Alabama native Somers writes about how the holiday season isn’t always warm and inviting for many, and delves into the impact of emotional distance from family and the resulting loneliness many people go through during the holidays.
Dan + Shay, “Long Live Christmas”
Following their 2024 holiday album It’s Officially Christmas: The Double Album, Dan + Shay are again getting listeners into the holiday spirit with their new song, “Long Live Christmas.” In elegant detail, they pay tribute to the sights and sounds that help make the holidays special, on lyrics such as “May everybody everywhere forever feel it in the air/ The magic of the holiday, the gingerbread, and candy cane.”
Trisha Yearwood, “Blue Christmas”
On her new holiday album Christmastime, which pairs Yearwood’s dynamic voice with rich arrangements from David Campbell, the Grammy winner offers a soulful, elegant take on this Elvis Presley classic.
The Kody Norris Show, “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town”
IBMA Awards winner The Kody Norris Show gives this Christmas classic a hefty shot of bluegrass. Fusing it with mandolin, bass, fiddle and banjo, they craft a song that feels cheery, merry and grassy.
Blessing Offor, “Merry Christmas, Baby”
This holiday season, Blessing Offor issued the new EP To All a Good Night, featuring songs like this rendition of Otis Redding’s soulful “Merry Christmas, Baby.” Offor’s nimble, dynamic voice is a natural fit for this track, making for a joyous new release.
Willie Nelson, “Christmas Love Song”
The legendary Willie Nelson helped usher in the holiday season with this tender new release, written by Bill Anderson, Bobby Tomberlin and Marv Green, with production from Buddy Cannon. Nelson wraps his iconic voice around a tale of someone writing a song as a holiday gift for a loved one.
Chris Young, “Christmas Ain’t Christmas”
Heading into the holiday season, Chris Young released the song “Christmas Ain’t Christmas,” setting the scene of someone whose holiday wish list is pretty simple. “Only thing on my list for Dec. 25th is for you to show up out of the blue,” he sings, setting the emotional tone for a holiday focused on requited love instead of decorations or presents.
Forrest Frank and JVKE, “CHRISTmas”
Forrest Frank, known for hits including “Celebration” and “Your Way’s Better,” teams with JVKE for new collaborative Christmas album, which includes this song about focusing on a faith-filled holiday season. “We took the holy out of holy night,” they sing, before urging listeners to have a holiday based on more than just holiday activities.
Mickey Guyton, “Sugar Cookie”
Mickey Guyton gave a sweet introduction to her holiday album Feels Like Christmas with this light-hearted, flirty holiday track. “Like a Christmas sweater/ When we bake together/ Everything is merry and bright,” she sings, adding, “Wanna sprinkle you in kisses, baby you’re delicious. You keep my sweet tooth satisfied. My sugarrrrrrrr.”
Lady A, “Wouldn’t Be Christmas”
From this country trio’s album On This Winter’s Night (Vol. 2), Lady A lends its signature soulful harmonies to this song about waiting for a loved one to arrive for the holidays. “It ain’t about all the snow that’s falling/ Or thе presents undernеath the tree/ Tell me that you’re coming home real soon,” they sing, creating a tender country-pop confection that feels cozy and timeless.
The Choir Room, “Silent Night”
Christian/Gospel music group The Choir Room, led by three-time Grammy and Dove Award winner writer-producer Dwan Hill, offers up its rendition of the classic “Silent Night.” The collective of powerful voices brings a version of this enduring holiday song that feels both inspired and enduring.
Little Big Town, “The Innkeeper”
Little Big Town’s unmistakably rich harmonies elevate this song about the tale of the birth of Jesus, related from the viewpoint of an innkeeper. “The Innkeeper” is from Little Big Town’s 2024 holiday album The Christmas Record.
Kristy Cox, “Christmas Without You”
Bluegrass artist Kristy Cox rings in the holidays with this wistful and slightly sad song about missing the holidays in her native Australia. She wrote the song with co-writer John Meador.
Brandon Heath and Francesca Battistelli, “Long Expected”
Brandon Heath and Francesca Battistelli team up for this faith-based duet. “To us a child, to us a son is given/ Born to bring hope to everyone it is written,” they sing, as their voices meld in dynamic fashion.
Lainey Wilson, “Peace, Love and Cowboys (Holiday Edition)”
Reigning CMA entertainer of the year Lainey Wilson revamps her song “Peace, Love and Cowboys” adding a few festive elements in this holiday rendition.
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