Jerrod Niemann Reflects on a Crazy Year as Christmas Arrives
Here's to hoping we get the gift of live music in 2021!
After almost a year without a live concert, country artist Jerrod Niemann is looking to wrap 2020 up on a high note — and he tells Sounds Like Nashville a Christmas in Texas is just what the doctor ordered.
Niemann explains that his memories of Christmas time were ones of togetherness and activity — and even though he’s all “grown up,” he’s excited to see what that means now.
“I grew up in a household where the number one tradition was definitely to just have fun and laugh a lot, and make sure everybody has a place to go during the holidays,” he explains, noting that he’s made arrangements to visit with family. “We’ve definitely seen a little bit of everything at my house during the holidays, so I’m excited to see what we will come up with this year.”
Niemann’s family is one that usually opens gifts on Christmas eve, and would spend the rest of the holiday enjoying each other’s company with board games board games or even “sleigh rides” down the stairs on a mattress. That might not be the case this year, but one of his favorite parts of Christmas is still decorating the tree. He says it offers a chance to remember how blessed he is to make music for a living — even though that was really the case this year.
“I do have some really cool ornaments I’ve saved over the years, having the opportunity to travel and play music throughout the world,” Niemann says. “It’s always really cool to see those ornaments hanging up and see those keepsakes that take me back to some wonderful memories, from just playing here in our country and clear across the world to places like Afghanistan and Iraq, and being able to play some music for our military while they’re away from their families and friends during the holidays.”
Jerrod Niemann goes on to say that he’s made the most of his year off the road, spending time at home recording in his “red room,” and learning a new instrument called the lap steel. He even released a music video for “White Christmas In The Sand.” But all he’s asking Santa for, is for 2021 to be different.
“I think, looking back on this year, what I’m most thankful for amidst all this chaos is just having some time at home to do things around the house, to spend time with my girlfriend, hang out with my dogs, and for me, making music all year long was a blast,” he says. “But I’m definitely looking forward to next year and hopefully getting everything back in order.”
