Alan Jackson and Chris Young Remember the Reason for the Season with ‘There’s A New Kid In Town’

Performing the song with one of his musical heroes was a dream come true for Chris Young.

Written by Lauren Laffer
Alan Jackson and Chris Young Remember the Reason for the Season with ‘There’s A New Kid In Town’
Chris Young and Alan Jackson; Photo Credit: Donn Jones / CMA

In a true Christmas miracle, Alan Jackson and Chris Young brought their powerful vocals together for a stand-out performance on the 8th annual CMA Country Christmas television special. Performing the classic holiday ballad, “There’s A New Kid In Town,” Young couldn’t believe that he’d have the opportunity to perform live with one of his musical heroes.

“This song, specifically, for me is really important because it ended up on my record … and I said this probably a billion times to all of you during interviews about Christmas stuff, but I wanted this song on that album because my favorite Christmas record growing up was the ‘Alan Jackson Christmas’ record, and he did this song,” the Tennessee native told Sounds Like Nashville and other media backstage during the taping of the special. “So on [my] album, I actually sang where he sang and I had him sing where Keith Whitley sang on his version. This song’s just super-important to me and loved it. I got asked to perform on [CMA Country Christmas] but [I] love it even more that I’m getting to do it with Alan Jackson.”

Jackson and Young first combined their vocal talents on the song when Young released his first-ever Christmas album, It Must Be Christmas, in 2016. In addition to Jackson’s iconic presence on the project, Young also enlisted the help of Brad Paisley and Boyz II Men on the album.

“I’m so honored that they wanted to be a part of it, first of all. If you went through what I listened to not only as a kid but even now, you’ll find all three of them in the most played section,” Young told Sounds Like Nashville last year. “Being able to work with all of the people I really wanted for this project… I picked those three people and I got those three, and Boyz II Men obviously being in a group, but having them all on one project and having them be on my Christmas record that’s going to exist out there forever, just really, really proud. I’m really excited about this whole record.”

CMA Country Christmas will re-air Thursday, December 21 at 9/8c on ABC.