Kellie Pickler Has Pulled Together the Ultimate Country Christmas Playlist
Kellie Pickler has had a year for the books (and airwaves). There's been her wildly popular CMT show I Love Kellie Pickler and the expansion of her home goods line, Selma Drye, which the star created in collaboration with the Grande Ole Opry. And did we mention her endearingly hilarious Celebrity Family Feud blooper? Now, with the holiday season in full swing, the North Carolina native is showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, as soon as the Christmas tree goes up in her household ( "A lazy pre-lit tree that we've had for so long some of the lights have blown out and created dark patches!" she admits), things only get busier for Kellie and her husband, country music songwriter Kyle Jacobs. "Our traditions are a little different than most people's since it's usually the time of year that we head out of Nashville for our USO Holiday Tours," she tells CountryLiving.com."They're wonderful; it gives us an opportunity to take home to our servicemen and women who are serving all around the world."
If the couple manages to make it home for the holidays, Kellie loads up on Kyle's homemade cooking. "Kyle loves to make pancakes Christmas morning and he makes the best coffee ... well, he makes the best coffee every morning," says Kellie. While Kyle is on kitchen duty, Kellie sets out essential oils and candles to heighten the holiday spirit. "To me, it's really about the aroma. Peppermint, cinnamon…but mostly peppermint! I have a diffuser with essential oils so the combination of that and candles really make it smell just like Christmas," she says.
And even though their tree may be on its last legs, they always try to get it up early in the season: "It really just gives your home that extra boost and makes you want to finish putting up all the other decorations," she says. With the couple's wedding anniversary on January 1st, you may even find their residence decked in winter wonderland cheer come the New Year, riding out the tail-end of the holidays in a spirited manner (and providing the couple a convenient excuse to throw one last festive party).
But above all, nothing helps Pickler channel those seasonal feel-good vibes like music. "It's now a little Christmas tradition that we record a Christmas song for our [Selma Drye] snow globes every year.
This year we did 'White Christmas,'" she says (a version that we dare you to get unstuck from your head). When she's not spinning a collection of holiday favorites inspired by her glistening, sparkly globes, Kellie gets in the merriest of spirits by listening to some classic Christmas tunes by her favorite country artists-and we got her to share her seasonal playlist with us.
So go ahead, cue up these celebratory hits and light up a peppermint candle (or eight). Fireplace not included…
Dolly Parton "Hard Candy Christmas"
Brenda Lee "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"
Faith Hill "Where Are You Christmas"
Carrie Underwood "Do You Hear What I Hear"
LeAnn Womack "The Man With The Bag"
Gene Autry "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"
Vince Gill "Let There Be Peace on Earth"
Alan Jackson "Let It Be Christmas"
Merle Haggard "If We Make It Through December"
Martina McBride "O Holy Night"
Tammy Wynette "(Merry Christmas) We Must Be Having One"
Bing Crosby "The Christmas Song"
Listen to the whole playlist on Spotify here.
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