Rocker Melissa Etheridge is set to release a holiday album titled ‘A New Thought For Christmas’ on Sept. 30th through Island Records.

From an Island Records press release:

What if someone made a Christmas album for everybody else? That’s exactly what Melissa Etheridge has done. Working alongside her producer David Cole, Melissa’s songs celebrate a spiritual time of year where people can rejoice in their traditional, or non-traditional ways, and celebrate a winter solstice filled with love and peace.

This ten song album has newly composed songs such as “Ring The Bells,” “Light A Light,” and “It’s Christmas Time” interspersed with traditional holiday standards such as “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and “Blue Christmas.”

This album begs the question, “If we’re all talking about peace on earth, what if we all concentrated on peace on earth and made it happen?”

Melissa Etheridge has been a core Island Records artist since the release of her critically-acclaimed eponymous debut, which led to an invitation to sing on the 1989 Grammy Awards broadcast. 

For several years, Melissa’s popularity built around such memorable songs as “Bring Me Some Water” (from her debut), “No Souvenirs” (from 1989’s ‘Brave And Crazy’) and “Ain’t It Heavy” (from 1992’s ‘Never Enough’), for which she won her first Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal.
 
Melissa hit her commercial and artistic stride with her fourth album, 1993’s ‘Yes I Am,’ featuring the massive hits “I’m the Only One” and “Come to My Window,” a searing song of longing that brought her second Best Female Rock Grammy. 

The album went six times platinum and spent more than two and a half years on the album chart.  In 1995, she issued her highest charting album, ‘Your Little Secret’ (#6 on the Billboard Top 200), which included the hit single, “I Want to Come Over.” 

Her astounding success led Melissa to receive the Songwriter of the Year honor at the ASCAP Pop Awards in 1996.
 
Melissa continued to write, record, and tour throughout the ’90s and into the new millennium.  In 2006, she was approached by Al Gore to write a song for his documentary film, An Inconvenient Truth. 

The result was “I Need To Wake Up” and in February 2007, she won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.  Melissa’s ‘Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled’ was repackaged to include the OSCAR® winning song.  In April 2007, Melissa Etheridge received the distinguished ASCAP Founders Award honoring the anthemic power, compassion, and generosity of spirit of her music, and her enduring status as one of the greatest all-time female rock icons. 

In September 2007, she released ‘The Awakening,’ which was selected by Rolling Stone Magazine as #20 on its Top 50 albums of 2007.

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Kenny Rogers 2008 Tour Dates
8/20/2008 - Vienna, VA - The Filene Center
8/22/2008 - Harrington, DE - Harrington Raceway
8/23/2008 - Charlottesville, VA - Charlottesville Pavilion
8/30/2008 - Tuskahoma, OK - Choctaw Grounds & Amphitheatre
9/6/2008 - North Myrtle Beach, SC - Alabama Theatre
9/12/2008 - Norman, OK - Riverwind Casino
9/13/2008 - Thackerville, OK - Winstar Casino
10/1/2008, 10/2/2008 - Minot, ND - Norsk Hostfest All Season Arena Show
10/3/2008 - Prior Lake, MN - Mystic Lake Casino/Mystic Showroom
10/4/2008 - Hammond, IN - The Venue at the Horseshoe Casino
10/5/2008 - Effingham, IL - The Rosebud Theatre
10/13/2008 - Gillette, WY - The Wyoming Center at CAM-PLEX
10/14/2008 - Great Falls, MT - Four Seasons Arena
10/16/2008 - Victoria, British Columbia - Save On Foods Memorial Centre
10/18/2008 - Kelowna, British Columbia - Prospera Place
10/19/2008 - Prince George, British Columbia - CN Centre
10/20/2008 - Grande Prairie, Alberta - Crystal Centre
10/21/2008 - Edmonton, Alberta - Rexall Place
10/22/2008 - Lethbridge, Alberta - Enmax Centre
10/24/2008 - Calgary, Alberta - Pengrowth Saddledome
10/25/2008 - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - Credit Union Centre
10/26/2008 - Winnipeg, Manitoba - MTS Centre
10/27/2008 - Thunder Bay, Ontario - Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
10/30/2008 - Wabash, IN - Honeywell Center
12/1/2008 - London, Ontario - John Labatt Centre
12/3/2008 - Sudbury, Ontario - Sudbury Arena
12/4/2008-12/7/2008 - Rama, Ontario - Casino Rama
12/9/2008 - Verona, NY - Turning Stone Resort & Casino Showroom
12/10/2008 - Westbury, NY - Capital One Bank Theatre at Westbury
12/11/2008 - Durham, NC - Durham Performing Arts Center
12/12/2008, 12/13/2008 - Atlantic City, NJ - Trump Taj Mahal Casino
12/14/2008 - New Brunswick, NJ - State Theatre
12/15/2008 - Englewood, NJ - Bergen Performing Arts Center
12/19/2008 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Casino Showroom

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Irving Berlin’s White Christmas will open at Broadway’s Marquis Theatre Nov. 23, the Sunday before Thanksgiving, the producers announced on Aug. 19.

Tickets will go on sale exclusively to American Express card members starting Aug. 20 through Sept. 17 (visit broadway.yahoo.com). Tickets will go sale to the general public on Sept. 21.

The musical comedy confection based on the Paramount film of the same name has played acclaimed engagements in San Francisco, Boston, Detroit, Toronto, Los Angeles and St. Paul. As previously announced, previews for the Broadway debut of the splashy Walter Bobbie-directed production begin Nov. 14. Performances will play (sometimes nine times a week) through Jan. 4, 2009.

Casting information will be announced shortly. The company is expected to be drawn partly from past troupes that have appeared in the show regionally.

Irving Berlin’s White Christmas is produced by Kevin McCollum, John Gore, Tom McGrath, Paul Blake, The Producing Office, Dan Markley, Sonny Everett and Broadway Across America in association with Paramount Pictures.

According to producers, “Every holiday season, audiences of all ages enjoy the uplifting story of [the movie] ‘White Christmas.’ Now, a new generation will be able to experience this holiday tradition in a completely new way — live on stage. With the Broadway arrival of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, the show is poised to become New York’s newest holiday tradition.”

The musical tells the story of two showbiz buddies who put on a show in a picturesque Vermont inn, and find their perfect mates — a sister act, no less — in the bargain.

White Christmas has a book by David Ives (Is He Dead?) and Paul Blake, choreography by Tony Award nominee Randy Skinner (42nd Street), set design by Tony Award nominee Anna Louizos (In the Heights, Avenue Q), costumes by Tony Award nominee Carrie Robbins (Grease, Over Here), lighting design by Tony Award winner Ken Billington (Chicago, The Drowsy Chaperone, Annie), sound design by Tony Award nominee Acme Sound Partners (In the Heights, Spamalot), orchestrations by Tony Award nominee Larry Blank (The Drowsy Chaperone), vocal and dance arrangements by Bruce Pomahac, music supervision by Rob Berman, and casting by Jay Binder C.S.A.

The show’s song list includes classics by composer-lyricist Berlin: “Count Your Blessings,” “I Love a Piano,” “Sisters,” “How Deep is the Ocean” and the title song.

Beginning Sept. 21, tickets prices will be $66.50, $91.50 and $121.50 (including $1.50 facility fee), and are available through Ticketmaster by calling (212) 307-4100, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or in person at the Marquis Theatre box office (1535 Broadway).

For group sales details and pricing call The Group Sales Box Office at (800) 223-7565 or visit www.bestofbroadway.com.

*

Beginning Nov. 14, the show will play the following unique performance schedule per week:

Week of Nov. 10
Friday & Saturday at 8 PM, Sunday at 7 PM, Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2 PM.

Week of Nov. 17
Wednesday-Saturday at 8 PM, Tuesday at 7 PM, Sunday evening at 6 PM (Opening Night), Wednesday & Saturday matinees at 2 PM.

Week of Nov. 24
Wednesday-Saturday at 8 PM, Tuesday at 7 PM, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2 PM.

Weeks of Dec. 1 and Dec. 8
Wednesday-Saturday at 8 PM, Tuesday & Sunday at 7 PM, Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2 PM.

Week of Dec. 15
Wednesday-Saturday at 8 PM, Tuesday & Sunday at 7 PM, Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2 PM.

Week of Dec. 22
Monday, Friday & Saturday at 8 PM, Tuesday & Sunday at 7 PM, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2 PM. Dark on Christmas Day, Dec. 25.

Week of Dec. 29
Monday, Friday & Saturday at 8 PM, Tuesday at 7 PM, Tuesday, Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2 PM, DARK - New Year’s Eve & Day Dec. 31 & Jan. 1, 2009. Final performance: Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009.

For more information visit www.whitechristmasthemusical.com.

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The R-e-s-p-e-c-t singer has been put off releasing a festive album for years because her managers assured her such an album would never sell.

But now Franklin is out to prove them wrong as she joins the likes of Sheryl Crow, Faith Hill and Al Jarreau, who will all be hitting the Christmas music market with carols and festive favourites later this year (08).

She says, “It was just so grossly remiss that I have not had a Christmas album. It was just ridiculous.

“I was told at one point that they (Christmas albums) didn’t make any money, but that’s not the point at all.

“I’d be at home cooking and enjoying the holidays and listening to everybody but myself. I wasn’t enjoying that.”

Franklin’s This Christmas album will be released in October.

Wenn

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She felt the best songwriters for the job were Lawton Jiles and Buster Beam, who had written her Top-10 hit ‘Let The Teardrops Fall.’ The team went to work immediately and penned ‘Christmas Without You.’

Patsy loved it and took it to her record label representatives.

They loved it too, but had other ideas for the catchy tune. At the time, they were looking for Patsy’s next single. They thought the melody of the Jiles-Beam creation had hit potential. So they asked the writers if they would pen new lyrics for the song with a non-holiday theme.

Jiles and Beam quickly came up with new words and the title ‘How Can I Face Tomorrow?’ The song was released within a few weeks, but despite heavy television and radio promotion, it only made a modest showing on the Cashbox Country Charts.

‘I’ve always believed if Patsy would have recorded ‘Christmas Without You’ it would have become a holiday standard,’ said Jiles. ‘It’s the kind of Christmas song you hear once and want to sing along. It’s very simple, but the simple songs are usually the ones people love the most.’

Jiles said he and Patsy were extremely disappointed ‘Christmas Without You’ wasn’t recorded in its original form. He hoped another artist would record it someday.

Forty-eight years later, Jiles finally got his wish. Patsy’s lost Christmas classic has been recorded and released for the world to enjoy, courtesy of award-winning recording artist Luanne Hunt. Hunt’s rendition of ‘Christmas Without You’ will bring a tear to the eye of every Patsy Cline fan, as it is hauntingly reminiscent of the songbird’s signature sound.

The traditional country tune was produced by Eric Uglum (Alison Krauss, Ron Block, Ralph Stanley, Cherryholmes and Nickel Creek). It features an impressive twin-fiddle performance by 16-year-old sensation Christian Ward, who has shared the stage with Ricky Skaggs and Sierra Hull. Also on the record are Austin Ward (upright bass), Roger Gillespie (drums), Hal Ratliff (keyboards) and Uglum (guitar, mandolin and harmony vocals).

‘I got a rush when I first heard Luanne’s recording of ‘Christmas Without You’,’ said Jiles. ‘The song’s been in my head for years and to hear it done the way I always envisioned it is very exciting. It’s a perfect blend of the traditional and the contemporary.’

‘Christmas Without You’ is included on Hunt’s new six-song holiday EP ‘How Christmas Feels To Me’ on the American Classic Recordings label. To hear more tracks from the EP or to purchase your copy, go to www.luannehunt.com or www.myspace.com/luanneschristmascd

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He continued, “It’s either gonna be called ‘A Twisted Christmas…’ or ‘THE Twisted Christmas – A Musical’. It tells a story, but it’s very much a concert event. But there’s a storyline going on between. The show is about 20 songs. The band are the only actors. There is a narrator, I will tell you that much, who fills in the spaces — he’s on video screen — and he tells — ala ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’, to be honest — he helps move the story along and tell the story. If you saw ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’, off Broadway, [a band] performs and then in between there is interaction, which further moves the story along. So it’s pretty involved. It’s a unique combination of things that have been done before and haven’t been done before. And the goal, really — ’cause we’re not playing ourselves, we’re playing a fictitious band in the musical — eventually is to, like the BLUE MAN GROUP, have a whole bunch of casts out there during the holiday season performing the show. So that’s the ultimate goal. So it’s in development, but it’s well on its way. Like I said, I finished the script, everybody loves it, and now I’m sinking my teeth into writing the album which we’ll start recording in January/February for release in 2009.”

On September 25, 2007, Razor & Tie Entertainment released “A Twisted Christmas Live”, a DVD of TWISTED SISTER’s holiday 2006 show at New Jersey’s legendary Starland Ballroom. The DVD features performances of tunes from “A Twisted Christmas” (which features rock n’ roll versions of beloved Christmas classics), as well as TWISTED SISTER’s greatest hits.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 12 /PRNewswire/ — When you are not only a
Grammy(R) Award-winning and multi platinum-selling artist, but also have three
best-selling Christmas CDs while selling over six million Christmas albums
overall, what do you do?  If you are Amy Grant, you hand-pick your favorites,
record four new songs, and put them all together in one special CD and digital
release.  Such is the case with Grant’s THE CHRISTMAS COLLECTION, which will
release nationwide on September 30th through AG Productions/Sparrow Records.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080812/LATU541)

Featuring the first new Christmas music recorded by Grant in nine years
(since 1999’s Christmas To Remember) THE CHRISTMAS COLLECTION features
favorites including “Breath of Heaven,” “Grown Up Christmas List” and
“Tennessee Christmas,” along with new tracks produced by Brown Bannister
including original tunes “I Need A Silent Night,” co-written with Chris Eaton
(”Breath of Heaven”) including a special cameo from daughter Corrina as well
as “Baby It’s Christmas,” a song Grant co-wrote with husband Vince Gill.  The
result is a classic Christmas album reminiscent of the Bing Crosby, Frank
Sinatra, etc. albums of old (see full track listing below).

In support of the project, Grant will hit the road in early December for a
Christmas Tour that will also feature Vince Gill. Targeting 15 cities, Grant
will bring a festive and nostalgic evening to Baltimore, Atlanta, St Louis,
Nashville and more.

Just before the holiday season kicks into full swing Grant will tape a
“Holiday Celebration on Ice” on November 11th for NBC.  The special will
feature Grant singing Christmas favorites, along with Michael W. Smith, and
the skating talents of Olympic, World and National Champions including Nancy
Kerrigan and Viktor Petrenko.  Taped in HD, the special will be televised
nationally on NBC on Sunday, November 30th, as well as three separate times on
The Style Network between December 1 and 25, 2008, and shown a minimum of 20
times on the Universal HD network between December, 2008 and May, 2009.

For more information on Grant, THE CHRISTMAS COLLECTION, and her tours,
please go to http://www.amygrant.com.

Amy Grant’s career spans over 25 years and stretches from her roots in
gospel into an iconic pop star, songwriter, television personality, and
philanthropist. Grant has sold more than 30 million albums and won six Grammys
(R) in multiple categories, beginning with the platinum-selling Age to Age in
1982. She also has six #1 hits, including “Baby, Baby,” and “Every Heartbeat”
and is one of only two Christian artists to be awarded a star on the legendary
Walk of Fame in Hollywood. Grant released her first live recording in 25 years
with Time Again…Amy Grant Live in September 2006, and then announced her
first ever label shift to EMI Music Group where her entire music catalog was
re-mastered and released via a GREATEST HITS CD and made available for the
first time digitally.   This fall she will release her first new Christmas
music in 9 years, which in addition to four new songs, features tracks that
were hand-picked by Grant to include the best songs from her previous albums
that result in a classic Christmas album reminiscent of the Bing Crosby, Frank
Sinatra, etc. albums of old.

AMY GRANT: THE CHRISTMAS COLLECTION (CD, Digital Album)
1.  Jingle Bells (NEW RECORDING)
2.  It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
3.  I Need A Silent Night (NEW RECORDING)
4.  Winter Wonderland
5.  Baby, It's Christmas (NEW RECORDING)
6.  Sleigh Ride
7.  Count Your Blessings (NEW RECORDING)
8.  Hark!  The Herald Angels Sing
9.  Silent Night
10. Breath Of Heaven (Mary's Song)
11. Joy To The World/For Unto Us A Child Is Born
12. Grown-Up Christmas List
13. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
14. Tennessee Christmas
15. A Christmas To Remember
16. O Come All Ye Faithful
17. A Mighty Fortress/Angels We Have Heard On High
18. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

AMY GRANT CHRISTMAS TOUR FEATURING VINCE GILL (all dates subject to
change)
Dec 4Albany, NY/Times Union
Dec 5Augusta, NE/Augusta Civic Center
Dec 6West Point, NY/Eisenhower Hall
Dec 7Mashantucket, CT/MGM Grand @ Foxwoods
Dec 10   Baltimore, MD/Lyric Opera House
Dec 11   Salisbury, MD/Wicomico
Dec 12   Manchester, NH/Verizon Wireless Arena
Dec 13   Worcester, MA/DCU Center
Dec 15   Atlanta, GA/Fox Theater
Dec 16   Charlotte, NC/Ovens Auditorium
Dec 20   St Charles, MO/Family Arena
Dec 22   Nashville, TN/Ryman
Dec 23   Nashville, TN/Ryman

SOURCE  AG Productions/Sparrow Records

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“Run Rudolph Run”
Vocal/bass: Lemmy Kilmister (MOTÖRHEAD)
Guitar/vocals: Billy F. Gibbons (ZZ TOP)
Drums/vocals: Dave Grohl (FOO FIGHTERS)

“Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”
Vocal: Alice Cooper
Guitar: John 5 (MARILYN MANSON/ROB ZOMBIE)
Bass: Billy Sheehan (MR. BIG/ NIACIN)
Drums: Vinnie Appice (HEAVEN AND HELL/ BLACK SABBATH)

“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”
Vocal: Ronnie James Dio
Guitar: Tony Iommi (Heaven And Hell/ Black Sabbath)
Bass: Rudy Sarzo (WHITESNAKE/DIO)
Drums: Simon Wright (AC/DC/DIO)

“Little Drummer Boy”
Vocal: Dug Pinnick (KING’s X)
Guitars: George Lynch (DOKKEN)
Bass: Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big)
Drums: Simon Phillips (THE WHO/TOTO)

“Santa Claus Is Back In Town”
Vocal: Tim Ripper Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN/ex-JUDAS PRIEST/ICED EARTH)
Lead Guitar: Steve Morse (DEEP PURPLE)
Rhythm guitar: Juan Garcia (AGENT STEEL)
Bass: Marco Mendoza (Whitesnake/TED NUGENT)
Drums: Vinnie Appice

“Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”
Vocal: Tommy Shaw (STYX)
Guitars: Steve Lukather (TOTO)
Bass: Marco Mendoza
Drums: Kenny Aronoff (TONY IOMMI/SMASHING PUMPKINS)

“Grandma Got Ran Over By A Reindeer”
Vocal/Guitar: Ace Frehley (ex-KISS)
Bass: Billy Sheehan
Drums: Greg Bissonette (DAVID LEE ROTH)

“Rocking Round The Xmas Tree”
Vocal: Joe lynn Turner (RAINBOW/Deep Purple)
Guitars: Bruce Kulick (KISS/GRAND FUNK)
Bass: Rudy Sarzo
Drums: Simon Wright

“Silent Night”
Vocal: Chuck Billy (TESTAMENT)
Guitar: Scott Ian (ANTHRAX)
Lead Guitar: Jon Donais (SHADOWS FALL)
Bass: Chris Wyse (Ozzy/THE CULT)
Drums: John Tempesta (ROB ZOMBIE)

“Silver Bells”
Vocal: Jeff Scott Soto (Yngwie Malmsteen/JOURNEY)
guitar: Carlos Cavazo (QUIET RIOT)
Bass: James Lomenzo (MEGADETH/DLR BAND)
Drums: Ray Luzier (KORN/DAVID LEE ROTH)

“Deck The Halls”
Vocal: Oni Logan (LYNCH MOB)
Guitar: Craig Goldy (Dio)
Bass: Tony Franklin (THE FIRM)
Drums: John Tempesta

“We Wish You a Merry Xmas”
Vocal: Geoff Tate (QUEENSRŸCHE)
Guitars: Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake)
Bass: Chris Wyse
Drums: Ray Luzier

More details are expected to follow soon.

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    Partial track listing (not in sequence):
    "I'll Be Home For Christmas" with Carrie Underwood
    "Blue Christmas" with Martina McBride
    "Here Comes Santa Claus" with LeAnn Rimes
    "Silent Night" with Sara Evans
    "Merry Christmas Baby" with Gretchen Wilson
    "Silver Bells" with Anne Murray
    "White Christmas" with Amy Grant
    "O Little Town" with Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman of Little Big
     Town
    "Santa Claus Is Back In Town" with Wynonna Judd

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“AL JARREAU CHRISTMAS” opens with “Winter Wonderland,” written by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith in 1934 for Guy Lombardo, who hit #2 with the song’s timeless melody. The album is packed with festive favorites including “The Christmas Song,” “Come All Ye Faithful,” and “White Christmas,” the ageless tune written by Irving Berlin and first sung by Bing Crosby in the 1942 musical, “Holiday Inn.” The album also features Jarreau’s versions of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” “Carol Of The Bells,” “Hark The Herald Angels Sing,” “Some Children See Him” and “Gloria In Excelsis,” a sacred song used in the Roman Catholic Mass.

After singing with Reprise in 1975, Jarreau has become a master of both studio and stage. The only artist to ever win Grammy awards in pop, jazz and R&B, Jarreau is one of the most exciting and critically acclaimed performers of our time. During his career, Jarreau has earned scores of awards and accolades from around the world, including a platinum album, “Breakin’ Away” (1981), and four gold albums — “This Time” (1980), “Jarreau” (1983), “High Crime” (1984) and “L Is For Lover” (1986). In February 2008, Jarreau handpicked his favorite romantic tunes for “LOVE SONGS.” Spanning three decades, this 14-song compilation is available now from Rhino.

Jarreau was recently featured on opening night of the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. This year marked the 30th anniversary of the renowned festival, which was emceed by Bill Cosby. He will embark on a tour of Southeast Asia in September and the United States in December.

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“We always imagined we would do a holiday album,” says Fleck, a 10-time Grammy winner. “When the Flecktones first got together, we worked out a Christmas medley – it was really fun. People loved it, and we continued to play it every year.”

Produced by Fleck, the record features guest Elves Andy Statman & Tuvan Throat Singers on renditions of songs ranging from Bach to “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.” Tributes To Joni Mitchell and Vince Guaraldi are also included.

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Featuring the first new Christmas music recorded by Grant in nine years (since 1999’s Christmas To Remember) THE CHRISTMAS COLLECTION features favorites including “Breath of Heaven,” “Grown Up Christmas List” and “Tennessee Christmas” along with new tracks produced by Brown Bannister including original tunes “I Need A Silent Night,” co-written with Chris Eaton (“Breath of Heaven”) including a special cameo from daughter Corrina as well as “Baby It’s Christmas,” a song Grant co-wrote with husband Vince Gill. The result is a classic Christmas album reminiscent of the Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, etc. albums of old (see full track listing below).

In support of the project, Grant will hit the road in early December for a Christmas Tour that will also feature Vince Gill. Targeting 15 cities, Grant will bring a festive and nostalgic evening to Baltimore, Atlanta, St Louis, Nashville and more.

Just before the holiday season kicks into full swing Grant will tape a “Holiday Celebration on Ice” on November 11th for NBC. The special will feature Grant singing Christmas favorites, along with Michael W. Smith, and the skating talents of Olympic, World and National Champions including Nancy Kerrigan and Viktor Petrenko. Taped in HD, the special will be televised nationally on NBC on Sunday, November 30th, as well as three separate times on The Style Network between December 1 and 25, 2008, and shown a minimum of 20 times on the Universal HD network between December, 2008 and May, 2009.

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“One of the songs is called “Slower Than Christmas,”” he tells Flagstaff Live!. “It’s about this guy talking about how Christmas is the slowest day of the year ‘cause he’s in this horrible dysfunctional family. It’s kind of like a Bad Santa Christmas song I guess you’d say.”

“Then there’s another one we have called “I Won’t Be Home for Christmas” that’s about a guy in jail,” he continues. “The other one’s about a kid who wonders why every year at Christmas it just so happens that all these things happen with his parents and Santa doesn’t show up either. And then by the end of the song, you realize he’s figured it out… He knows that mom and dad’s troubles are the reason that he doesn’t get anything, that they are Santa. So they’re all sad, basically.”

In cinema parlance, Thornton’s current tour with band mates J.D. Andrew (guitar, bass) and Mike Butler (guitar, other instruments) is generating mixed reviews. After a July 11th concert in Santa Rosa, CA, the Press-Democrat’s John Beck opined that when the actor took the stage, he was ‘stiff and wooden, with all the stage presence of a Hollywood cardboard cutout.’ Meanwhile, in setting the stage for last night’s Boxmasters concert in New Mexico, Santa Fe Reporter writer Gabe Gomez was full of praise. ‘Rather than crumble to the pre-existing stigmas of actor-turned-rock star,’ he raved, ‘the Boxmasters’ release of a double album of 1960s-era country music puts Thornton on par with [Johnny] Cash as a rebellious musician.’

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Songs on the CD include the Christmas anthem “We Three Kings,” the playful “Up on the Housetop,” and enduring classics such as “Hark, The Herald Angels Sing,” “Deck the Halls,” “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” and “We Wish You A Merry Christmas,” among others.

“I wanted to put together a collection of my favorite traditional Christmas songs that I grew up listening to,” says Strait. “It was hard to narrow it down to ten of them, but I think I’ve done it. I hope these songs bring back good memories for my fans like they have for me.”

George Strait is one of the most successful and prolific country music artists of all time. With a career that spans more than 25 years, Strait has 56 number one songs to his name, more than any other artist including all genres of music. He has sold more than 68 million records, garnering him 32 different platinum or multi-platinum albums. The only recording artists with more RIAA certified platinum albums are The Beatles with 39 and Elvis Presley with 45.

In 2006, Strait was elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame, one of the few artists to receive such a distinction while still actively recording and producing music.

Most recently, Strait’s 37th album, Troubadour, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and the Top Country Albums chart. The first single from Troubadour, “I Saw God Today,” topped the charts making it his 56th number one hit. The title cut is the current single and is 19* on R&R/Billboard and 21* on the MediaBase/Country Aircheck chart.

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“I had been wanting to do this for awhile, so when the opportunity came up I just kind of jumped at it.” Crow said. “I love Christmas music; every year we have this ritual after the Christmas Eve service, 40 or 50 people come over the house and we play Christmas music. We pretty much rely on the same Christmas music every year, and every year I’ve said, “I’m gonna make some Christmas music of my own.” There’s been lots of amazing Christmas records that have come out, but where Christmas music is concerned there’s always room for everyone.”

“The album is just gorgeous. It’s kind of a humble record; it’s very sweet and innocent and a little bit of a throwback to maybe the ’60s or ’70s in production. It’s definitely a departure from any Christmas record I’ve ever heard. There’s just a beautifully lush, kind of soulful version of “Oh Holy Night.” And “All Through the Night,” which is a traditional carol, actually; [Bottrell] put together a beautiful suite arrangement, which is a little bit of a departure from the stoic hymn version. But the lyrics for it are fantastic. And then there are just a few songs that are fun and everybody loves them-”Merry Christmas, Baby” and “White Christmas” and stuff like that.”

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The Kiss Me hitmakers reunited for shows in March (08) and have now decided to release their first holiday album, The Dawn of Grace.

The album will feature traditional Christmas classics like Angels We Have Heard on High and Silent Night as well as two original tracks.

Jars of Clay star Dan Haseltine joined Sixpence singer Leigh Nash in the studio to record a rendition of Silent Night.

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Expect an official announcement soon.

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