Martina McBride Reflects on Christmas Traditions: “It’s a Day For Me to Be Home and Enjoy Being With My Family”
For Martina McBride, Christmastime is all about family.
Growing up in Kansas as one of four siblings alongside brothers Martin and Steve and sister Gina, McBride recalls her favorite Christmas gift being a puppy she got when she was eight-years-old. “That was amazing,” she reflects to Sounds Like Nashville. “It’s pretty hard to beat getting a puppy at Christmas, so that was a good one.”
Now that she calls Nashville home, McBride and her husband John and daughters Delaney, Emma and Rose have established their own holiday traditions, including picking out a live tree and decorating it together while Christmas music plays in the background, and doing a Christmas-themed puzzle each year. In addition to being country music royalty, McBride is also known for her expert cooking skills, having released two cookbooks, Around the Table: Recipes and Inspiration for Gatherings Throughout the Year and Martina’s Kitchen Mix: My Recipe Playlist for Real Life, and hosts a show on the Food Network, Martina’s Table. Food is a major focal point of the holiday, the family dining on a chicken and sausage gumbo on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day, the family starts the day by opening gifts and indulging in a big breakfast before the decadent main course that includes pot roast, mashed potatoes, corn, salad and carrots. “My favorite thing is us all being here at the house together,” McBride expresses of her favorite aspect of the holiday. “It’s a day for me to just be home and enjoy being with my family.”
The powerhouse singer also recalls a particularly special memory when her family ventured to the historic Belcourt Theatre in Nashville for a Christmas Eve viewing of It’s a Wonderful Life. As they exited the theatre, they were greeted by a magical snowfall. “When we came out, there was this beautiful snowfall, big, huge flakes of snow were falling on Christmas Eve,” McBride describes of the moment that she compares to a scene out of a movie. “That was really special.”
McBride recently wrapped The Joy of Christmas Tour. She’ll resume tour dates in 2022 on January 13, continuing through June.
