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I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
Vince Gill, 1993
"Vince is Mr. Christmas," says NSAI's Mark Ford. "And he's married to Mrs. Christmas—Amy Grant. They're on everyone's list."
2
BLUE CHRISTMAS
Elvis Presley, 1957
"It conveys what Christmas is about," says ACM's Lisa Lee. "Being with loved ones."
3
MARY, DID YOU KNOW?
Kathy Mattea, 1993
Mattea's delivery is "classic," notes Ford. "It's just a beautiful and haunting song."
4
BREATH OF HEAVEN (MARY'S SONG)
Amy Grant, 1992
This rendition "is the one everyone loves," asserts Dan Keen of ASCAP Nashville.
5
O HOLY NIGHT
Martina McBride, 1995
McBride nails the soaring melody. "It moves everyone," says BMI's Jody Williams.
6
RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER
Gene Autry, 1949
"It's one of the biggest selling records of all time," says the Hall of Fame's Michael Gray.
7
THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY
Johnny Cash, 1959
The Man in Black "strips it down," says Lee.
8
IT WASN'T HIS CHILD, Trisha Yearwood, 1994
Yearwood is so convincing, "you'd swear they were her own words," says the Opry's Pete Fisher.
9
GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER
Elmo and Patsy, 1984
"From the goofy lyrics to the quirky vocals, it's a Christmas standard," says SESAC's Tim Fink.
10
MERRY CHRISTMAS STRAIT TO YOU
George Strait, 1986
The tune "draws from honky-tonk and western swing, and shows Strait's exquisite taste in material," says Gray.
11
THERE'S A NEW KID IN TOWN
Keith Whitley, 1990
"A memorable performance from one of country's most soulful singers," says Gray.
12
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A REAL GOOD TAN
Kenny Chesney, 2003
"People relate to the sentiment: 'Let's just chuck it all and go get a tan,' " says Ford.
13
HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS
Toby Keith, 2007
"Toby is often seen as a tough guy, but this tender song is a reminder that there's another side to him," says Lee.
14
ROCKIN' AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE
Brenda Lee, 1958
"Little Miss Dynamite transcends the boundaries between country, pop and rock and roll," says Gray.
15
SANTA BABY
Kellie Pickler, 2007
"This song needs someone with sass to pull it off, and she does it," says Lee.
16
KUNG PAO BUCKAROO HOLIDAY
Brad Paisley, 2003
Paisley—with George Jones, Little Jimmy Dickens and Bill Anderson—pokes fun at political correctness.
17
SANTA LOOKED A LOT LIKE DADDY
Buck Owens, 1965
Owens "offers a rollicking look at Christmas through kids' eyes," notes Fisher.
18
HARD CANDY CHRISTMAS
Dolly Parton, 1982
"This song reminds me to be thankful," says Lee.
19
I ONLY WANT YOU FOR CHRISTMAS
Alan Jackson, 1975
"To borrow a phrase from American Bandstand: It has a great beat and you can dance to it!" says Lee.
20
PRETTY PAPER
Willie Nelson, 1979
This touching song has "powerful imagery, and the kind of lyrics you don't often hear at Christmas," says Gray.
21
THE CHRISTMAS SONG
Trace Adkins, 1998
"It takes a special voice to bring something new to this song," says Lee. "He makes it his own."
22
PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
The Eagles, 1978
The renowned band "honored the original version but also created a new classic," says Williams.
23
CHRISTMAS IN DIXIE
Alabama, 1982
The legendary group shows "you don't have to have a foot of the white stuff to enjoy a beautiful Christmas morning," says Fisher.
24
HANGIN' AROUND THE MISTLETOE
Brooks & Dunn, 2002
"This just puts a smile on your face," says Ford.
25
FELIZ NAVIDAD
Billy Joe Shaver and Flaco Jimenez, 2005
The duo provides "a fun, fresh take on a popular Christmas song," says Ford.
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