40 Best Country Christmas Songs to Listen to All Season Long
Add these tunes from your favorite country crooners to your holiday playlist ASAP.
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Sure, almost any Christmas song will get you in the holiday spirit, but if you're a country music fan — and especially if you're a country music fan from the South — then you know that nothing will turn your yuletide switch on like a twangy Christmas tune from your favorite country artist. Of course, some may say that it's only appropriate to start playing holiday songs after you've polished off your Thanksgiving dinner, but we're here to give you full permission to tune into the songs on this list of the ultimate country Christmas songs any time you need a holly, jolly pick-me-up.
For country purists, our playlist includes traditional carols sung by the greats, like Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton, as well as covers and original holiday music from all your favorite country crooners, including George Strait, Martina McBride, Alan Jackson, LeAnn Rimes and so many more. While many of these songs might bring back fond memories from Christmases past, others will bring brand-new joy to your headphones.
So look no further if you're on the hunt to create the best-ever country Christmas playlist to blast while you're baking Christmas cookies, decorating the tree or eating Christmas dinner. Throw on your cowboy boots and Santa Claus hat — it's time to ring in the season by pressing play on these chart-topping country holiday hits!
The Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem "Christmas Bells" inspired this timeless holiday from Johnny Cash's first Christmas album released in 1963.
Dolly penned this tune for the film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. But don't let that title fool you, this one is a song for the brokenhearted — and one of the saddest on her Christmas album.
RELATED: 20 Best Dolly Parton Christmas Songs to Add to Your Holiday Playlist
Back in 2003, Alan’s holiday album (which had the same name as the song) peaked at No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Catalog Albums chart. In 2017, he re-released the album in honor of the 25th anniversary of his career.
This song has been a favorite of country music fans since Loretta Lynn released it on her 1966 album, Country Christmas. So popular in fact, that the legendary country singer decided to re-release it on her 2017 album White Christmas Blue.
Blake was initially nervous to approach his friend Michael about revamping “Home” to make it a country Christmas song. “I had the idea of doing a Christmas version of ‘Home’ because the song would kind of lend itself to the holidays anyway,” he told CBS. “That’s when you really miss home.” Michael was actually thrilled, and they went on to record it and even performed it on Michael’s NBC special Home for the Holidays.
Country superstars Brett Eldredge and Kelly Clarkson teamed up for this fun holiday romp, and we're so grateful they did.
Yes, they’re a rock band, but the Eagles’ cover of Charles Brown’s 1960 Christmas song was a total country radio hit in 1978. It debuted as No. 78 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and peaked at No. 18.
You have to listen to at least one rendition of this song during the holiday season. There are so many covers to choose from (and another on this list), but Vince Gill's version is a bonafide country classic.
This novelty Christmas track was originally performed by 10-year-old Gayla Peevey in 1953, but country music darling Kacey Musgraves gives the track a charming update on her Christmas album — which is full of kid-friendly tracks, BTW!
RELATED: 45 Best Modern Christmas Songs You Need on Your Holiday Playlist
Last year, Keith treated us to an acoustic duet version of this flirty Christmas song, featuring his wife Nicole Kidman on backup vocals.
"Baby, It's Cold Outside" was first written in 1944, and became popular with the 1949 film Neptune's Daughter — and ever since, it's been a Christmas staple. Country power couple Garth and Trisha do what they do best on this track: give it a little country flair.
Cam takes on the melancholy 1943 Bing Crosby tune, adding her sweet twang to the nostalgic tune.
Recently, the legendary country singer celebrated the 60-year anniversary of her take on the classic Christmas song. “I was only 12 going on 13, so that was a biggie to me,” Brenda told Billboard of the popular song she still sings. “Everybody was dressed Christmas-sy and the lights were low … It was wonderful.”
The title track from the Pistol Annies' new Christmas album, this is your them song if you believe that the holidays start as soon as Halloween ends.
This country Christmas song has been a hit since it was released as a single in 1982. Years later, in 2009, Australian songwriter Allan Caswell sued Sony (which also repped the band Alabama), claiming that the song shared similarities to his 1979 song “On the Inside.” Though it came with plenty of drama, it’s a song that’s remained popular to this day.
It's all right there in the name — there's nothing like Christmas in the country!
Brett performed this song at his third-annual Christmas concert in Nashville in 2016. Everyone from the Beach Boys to Michael Bublé have recorded their own versions, but the OG came from the one and only Elvis Presley in 1957.
Country artist Charley Pride released his first Christmas album in 1970, it was re-released in 2013 with three additional bonus tracks.
Though plenty of country crooners have taken a swing at this one, Reba's version is one of the best. The song, originally sung by Nat King Cole, was written by musician Mel Tormé and his writing partner Bob Wells, who reportedly wrote a song about the cold to help them endure a harsh summer day.
This track appeared on the special edition of Carrie's 2020 Christmas album, My Gift — and it's guaranteed to get you in a merry mood.
Blake Bakkila has been writing about everything from pop culture to lifestyle products for more than eight years. Her work has appeared on GoodHousekeeping.com, WhattoExpect.com, Health.com, and in the print and digital versions of Real Simple and People.
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