Chris Young’s ‘It Must Be Christmas’ Was ‘Meant To Be’
"[The label was] ready for me to make it and I’ve been ready to make it for years," Young tells us of his very first Christmas album.
If you know anything about Chris Young, you know that he loves Christmas. So it was no surprise when he announced that he’d finally be releasing a Christmas album of his own. The project, entitled It Must Be Christmas, has been a long time coming for the Tennessee native, who immediately accepted the task when his label brought it to the table.
“It was an opportunity to do something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” Young told Sounds Like Nashville before his album listening party on Tuesday night (Oct. 11). “They were ready for me to make it and I’ve been ready to make it for years. And in a weird way, especially with the originals, I’d never written a great original Christmas song until this year. The timing was almost kind of a meant to be sort of thing.”
It was meant to be alright, because not only did Young & Co. write two original Christmas songs, but the singer also got all three of his dream duet partners to join him on the project… Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley and Boyz II Men.
“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,” said Young. “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.”
While working on the project was a dream come true for the CMA nominee, it wasn’t without its challenges. The record was recorded during the summer and one can only imagine how difficult it was to get into the holiday spirit while 90+ degree weather awaited outside of the studio.
“The biggest, toughest thing honestly is to try and get in that spirit in July, cutting a Christmas record because it’s 102 degrees outside. The really interesting thing was that everybody kind of came together as far as all of the musicians, and then all of the people that I had worked with, whether it was the songwriters or Corey [Crowder], my co-producer, as far as we decorated the whole studio. We really tried to just get completely into that zone of Christmas music,” he explained. “I won’t say hurdle, but that was a little weird when you walk outside after cutting Christmas music and it’s 100 degrees.”
The fight for holiday cheer paid off, as Young’s It Must Be Christmas is just days away from release.
Young will continue to spread the holiday cheer during the rest of his I’m Comin’ Over Tour as he’s teamed up with Toys for Tots to help collect unwrapped toys or books at designated tour stops. Fans can bring gifts for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve run program to any of the dates listed below.
Toys For Tots donations will be accepted at the following Chris Young “I’m Comin’ Over Tour” Dates*
Nov. 17 – Bob Carpenter Center – Newark, DE+
Nov. 18 – Wicomico Youth & Civic Center – Salisbury, MD+
Nov. 19 – Crown Coliseum – Fayetteville, NC+
Dec. 1 – Ryan Center – Kingston, RI+
Dec. 2 – Cross Insurance Arena – Portland, ME+
Dec. 3 – Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza – Wilkes-Barre, PA+
Dec. 8 – Show Me Center – Cape Girardeau, MO+
Dec. 9 – iWireless Center – Moline, IL+
Dec. 10 – Thompson-Boling Arena – Knoxville, TN+
*Dates subject to change, please check chrisyoungcountry.com for the latest information
+with special guest Dustin Lynch and Cassadee Pope
