Album Review: Amy Grant’s ‘Tennessee Christmas’

Grant has had a way with Christmas music for well over three decades, and this set will no doubt add to that impressive résumé!

Written by Chuck Dauphin
Album Review: Amy Grant’s ‘Tennessee Christmas’
Photo courtesy the {m} media collective

There’s something that is synonymous with Christmas music and Amy Grant. The singer – known initially as one of the biggest stars in Christian Music – has actually carved out a pretty successful recording career based upon Yuletide music alone. With three previous albums of the season, as well as several compilations, Grant has become one of the unofficial artists of the Holiday season. (Though, I wonder how Santa Claus would be nothing less than a fan of the angelic tones of Grant.)

Of course, the song that might very well be her most recorded copyright – “Tennessee Christmas” was from that first set – A Christmas Album, from 1983. For this, her fourth such offering, features a new recording of the classic, and Grant’s voice has even more depth and warmth than she did on the original. Other highlights of this new disc include the heartwarming “To Be Together,” which is all about the tug of family and close friends during the season. She stays in the sentimental mood on “Christmas Don’t Be Late,” which opens with a recitation – which adds to the personal flavor of the album.

Cover art courtesy The Media Collective

Cover art courtesy The Media Collective

Christmas, is of course, a joyous season, and there’s plenty of that style on this new disc. “Christmas For You and Me” has somewhat of a 60s Pop feel to it that Grant dashes with the right amount of fun and frolic. Her husband, Vince Gill, lends his talent to a romantic roll through “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” which is a definite highlight.

Grant also lends an ear and heart to those that might not be welcoming a house full for the Christmas season, by showing the other mood of the holidays on “Melancholy Christmas” and “Another Merry Christmas.” It’s sad, but also a fact of life that not everyone is celebrating with egg nog and boxes of red and green. Grant handles the poignancy of each song with the heart of someone who understands that feeling.

And, there’s more than a fair share of classics here, with “Joy To The World,” “I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm,” and a beautiful version of “White Christmas” that stands with the best. Grant has had a way with Christmas music for well over three decades, and this set will no doubt add to that impressive résumé!’

Tennessee Christmas is available for purchase NOW.