Christmas is still more than three weeks away but that doesn’t mean it’s too early to get into the holiday spirit. The annual CMA Country Christmas special airs tonight (December 3). It promises to be packed with great performances. However, few will rival the reigning queen of the season, Amy Grant, performing her original Yuletide classic “Tennessee Christmas.”
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Grant singing this tender Christmas classic will get even the biggest Grinch in the mood to hang some decorations and trim the tree. Tonight’s performance was no different. Grant was positively glowing with holiday cheer as she sang the ode to holidays spent at home with family backed by a full band and string section.
[RELATED: 4 of the Most Joyful Christmas Performances by Vince Gill and Amy Grant]
“Tennessee Christmas” captures the spirit of the holiday like few other songs. It’s not about presents or decorations. Even though Grant is largely a Christian music artist, it doesn’t touch on the Biblical reason for the season. Instead, it’s all about being at home and surrounded by loved ones, even if other places have more snow or warmer weather.
Amy Grant Has Been Singing “Tennessee Christmas” for Decades
Amy Grant co-wrote “Tennessee Christmas” with fellow Christian singer/songwriter Gary Chapman. She first recorded the track for her 1983 release A Christmas Album. The 11-track collection contained original songs as well as holiday classics.
Grant recorded the song again more than 30 years later for her 2016 album Tennessee Christmas. She released the song as a single from the album and it peaked at No. 50 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs Chart in December of 2016.
Eight years later, Grant recorded the song again for her 2024 collaborative holiday album with her husband Vince Gill, When I Think of Christmas. It’s a highlight of the album much like her performance of the song was a highlight of this year’s CMA Country Christmas.
This TV special isn’t the only place fans can see Grant sharing the joy of the holiday season. She and Gill are also holding their annual Christmas at the Ryman residency this year. They started the string of shows on November 30 and will continue to bring Yuletide joy to the Mother Church until December 21.
Featured Image by Paras Griffin/Getty Images
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