New Christmas Music For 2024

By Don Stone

  For Christian music fans, there is plenty to choose from if you’re looking for fresh new Christmas music this holiday season. Top CCM artists from For King & Country, Phil Wickham, Forrest Frank, We Are Messengers, Elevation Worship, Seth Schleuter, Tasha Layton, Hannah Kerr and Austin French along with Gospel Music artists CeCe Winans and Jonathan McReynolds to Southern Gospel artists The Martins, The Guardians, Gaither Vocal Band, and Lauren Talley have new releases out already.
  Here is a list of what to keep an eye out for to help you celebrate the season in music.

                  FOR KING & COUNTRY: “Drummer Boy Christmas Live”

    for KING + COUNTRY’s new holiday album, “A Drummer Boy Christmas (LIVE),” will be released on November 22 via Curb | Word Entertainment. for KING + COUNTRY’s Joel and Luke Smallbone rings in the 2024 holiday season with a live collection of their beloved Christmas show delivered straight to fans.
   “A Drummer Boy Christmas (LIVE)” captures the joy, the wonder and the pageantry of their seasonal tour that has become an annual tradition for the duo capped by their signature rendition of “Little Drummer Boy.”
  The 15 tracks include “Joy To The World,” O Come, O Come Emmanuel, “Angels We Have Heard On High” and “Do You Hear What I Hear.”

                                                                                             

                  CECE WINANS: “Joyful, Joyful; A Christmas Album”

    As the holiday season approaches, CeCe Winans continues to share her musical gift with the world, embarking on a nearly sold-out Christmas tour beginning December 4th in Reading, PA. In tandem with the tour, Winans is releasing new Christmas music under the title “Joyful, Joyful: A Christmas Album,” a reimagined and expanded version of her previous holiday release, “Something’s Happening!” 
    Known for her timeless voice and heartfelt performances, CeCe brings her signature warmth and soul to a collection of classic holiday favorites and original songs that are sure to become part of your holiday tradition.
    This special edition, produced by Winans’ talented son, Alvin Love III, offers a fresh take on familiar Christmas classics. Standout tracks like “Joy To The World” and “It’s Christmas” are symphonic masterpieces, while Love also contributed five original songs. The 10 track project includes “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day,” “Feliz Navidad/O Holy Night” and “Silent Night.”

                                                                                                                                                     

                          PHIL WICKHAM: “Hallelujah! It’s Christmas!”

  Phil Wickham’s 4th Christmas album, “Hallelujah! It’s Christmas!,” features songs perfect to lead in church on Sunday morning as well as songs ready to carol around town with friends & family.
   One of the top Worship leaders in the world today, Wickham has written nearly a dozen songs residing in CCLI’s top 100. Both his Christmas & Easter themed worship music consistently sits at the top of the charts during the seasons.
   “On my new album ‘Hallelujah! It’s Christmas!’ I’m releasing a Christmasy version of ‘Holy Forever’. It’s super cozy and I love it so much!,” said Phil.
   The 15 tracks include “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” “Silent Night, Holy Night,” “Behold” (feat. Anne Wilson), “Deck The Halls” (feat CHPTRS), and “Winter Wonderland” (feat The Wickham Sisters).

                                                                                                                                                     

                          JONATHAN MCREYNOLDS: “Red & Green”

   Grammy-winning gospel singer-songwriter Jonathan McReynolds is set to bring a new sound to the holiday season with the release of his first-ever Christmas (EP), “Red & Green.” Featuring an eclectic blend of original songs, Red & Green is the perfect soundtrack for any festive celebration or a cozy night at home by the fire. Known for his signature voice and heartfelt lyrics, McReynolds brings his take to Christmas music with a body of work that is entirely his own—no holiday covers, just fresh, uplifting tracks that capture the spirit of the season.

                                                                                               

                            ELEVATION WORSHIP: “Echo The Angels”

   GRAMMY Award®-winning praise band Elevation Worship (who gave us the songs “Trust in God” and “Graves into Gardens”) celebrates this holiday season with the release of their first-ever full-length Christmas album, “Echo The Angels.”  
The ten-track album features reimagined classics such as “Hark The Herald Angels Sing,” “O Little Town Of Bethlehem,” “Welcome To Our World,” and “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee.” The special project also includes a remixed track, “Joy!,” with Elevation Rhythm building off the standard, “Joy To The World.”

                                                                                             

                        LAUREN TALLEY: “A Lauren Talley Christmas”

  “I’m as proud of this record as any I’ve ever done,” enthuses Lauren Talley about “A Lauren Talley Christmas.” With the help of acclaimed producer (and father) Roger Talley, Lauren’s collection balances the familiar and the fresh in material — the latter includes the new “Love Reaches Round the World,” as well as Carrie Underwood’s “Stretchy Pants” and “Who Would Imagine a King,” first recorded by Whitney Houston — with an equally tasteful variety of arrangements.
   “I’m especially excited to have The Inspirations lend their powerhouse vocals to ‘The Son Came Down,’ a song I’ve loved since they recorded it 15 years ago,” Talley shares. “I’ve also recreated the old Talleys arrangement of ‘Sleigh Ride’ from 1988,” she continues.
   The 7 Tracks include “Rejoice! Medley (O Come O Come Emmanual/Come Thou Long Expected Jesus/How Great Our Joy/Joy To The World,” and “Go Tell It On The Mountain.”

                                                                                                                                             

                        TASHA LAYTON: “Wake Up It’s Christmas”

   Along with the title track “Wake Up Its Christmas,” the EP also features four additional songs including her song “Diddly Squat” which has made its way onto thousands of playlists.
  Layton’s holiday catalog is a classic big-band, jazz, and pop collection that comes back year after year. Her holiday music has more than 15 million holiday streams and is featured on Spotify’s playlists such as Christmas Jazz, Women of Christmas, Merry & Bright, Feel Good Christmas, and Christmas Spirit..                                             
                                                                                       

  Other Contemporary Christian, Gospel Music and Southern Gospel Music Christmas Releases

Forrest Frank – “The Present” (Single)

We Are Messengers – “Rejoice! A Celtic Christmas” 

We The Messengers feat. Keith & Kristyn Getty – “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” (Single)

Blessing Offor – “Snow Globe” (Single)

Gather Vocal Band – “New Star Shining”

Various – “A Dream Christmas, Vol. 6”

Gateway Worship (feat. Rebecca Hart) – “Emmanuel” (EP)

Seph Schlueter (feat. Leanna Crawford) – “We Sing (Joy to the World)” (Single)

The Martins – “Ring The Bells” (EP)

CeCe Winans “it’s Christmas” (Single)

CeCe Winans – “Joy To The World / It’s Christmas” (Single)

Phil Wickham “Angels (Glory To God)” (Single)

For King & Country “Silent Night” (Rewrapped) (Single)

Hannah Kerr feat. Austin French – “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” (Single)

Consumed By Fire – “Merry Little Christmas” (EP)

The Guardians – “Christmas With The Guardians”

Tedashii – “‘Tis The Season”

Point of Grace “Tonight” (Single)

Cochren & Co. “The Company Christmas Album”

Cochren & Co. “That Spirit of Christmas” (Single)

Francesca Battistelli – “Sleigh Ride” (Single)

Rebecca Hart & Gateway Worship – “Emmanuel”

Rebecca Hart Feat. Michael W. Smith – “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”

Anthony Evans – “The Greatest Gift”

Travis Cottrell – “Before The Manger” (EP)

Justin Gambino – “Joy to the World” 

Tim Timmons – “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” (Single)

Logan & Katie – “Joy to the World” 

Olivia Lane – “Silent Night” 

Jeannie K – “Prince of Peace” 

Salt of the Sound – “Silent Night” (EP)

Wilson Fairchild – “Christmas Guitars”

Local Sound – “Christmas Time Is Here” (Reimagined) (Single)

NCS Collective feat. John Chisum – “Christmas Can’t Be Christmas…”

Stephen McWhirter – “O Holy Night” (Single)

Marc Martel “A Marshmallow World”

Evan Wickham “My Christmas Light” (Single)

Thrive Worship “Hark” (EP)

Alive City – “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel / Hallelujah” (EP)

Rachael Mann – “O Come O Come Emmanuel” (Single)

Christian Anderson Band – “I Heard The Bells (Peace On Earth)” (Single)

Sarah Kroger – “Silent Night” (Single)

Jay DeMarcus and Friends – “Joy To The World” (Single)

Jim Sonefeld – “Light of Joy (Gloria)” (EP)

Mike Rathke “Christmas In My Heart”

Natasha Zimbaro – “O Holy Night” (Single)

Kate Stanford – “Mary, Did You Know?” (Single)

Brennley Brown – “Mary, Did You Know?” (Single)

Michael Boggs “Come You Faithful”

After Grace – “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays”

Anya Lee – “One Wish (For Christmas)” (Single)

  Other New Pop Music Christmas Releases

Blake Shelton “Go Tell It On The Mountain”

Kelly Clarkson – “You For Christmas” (Single)

Gabby Barrett – “Carols and Candlelight”

Clay Aiken – “Christmas Bells Are Ringing”

Ruben Studdard – “My Favorite Holiday”

Dan + Shay – “It’s Officially Christmas”

Van Zant – “Always Look Up”

Jennifer Hudson – “The Gift of Love”

Lea Salonga – Sounding Joy

Little Big Town – “The Christmas Record”

Brandy – “Christmas with Brandy”

Brett Eldredge – “Merry Christmas (Welcome to the Family)”

Ben Folds – “Sleighher”

Tower of Power – “It’s Christmas“

Jimmy Fallon – “Holiday Seasoning”

(REISSUES)

Amy Grant and Vince Gill – “When I Think of Christmas”

Bing Crosby – “Ultimate Christmas”

Ella Fitzgerald – “Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas” (Deluxe Edition)

Rod Stewart – “Merry Christmas, Baby” (Vinyl Release)

Frank Sinatra – “Ultimate Christmas” (2LP)

The Temptations – “Give Love At Christmas” (Limited Edition)

Boyz II Men – “Christmas Interpretations”

Donna Summer – “Christmas Spirit” (Vinyl Reissue)

Chet Baker – “Baker’s Holiday”

New Edition – “Christmas All Over The World”

Steve Perry – “The Season 3“

Toby Keith – “Christmas to Christmas”

Jethro Tull – “The Jethro Tull Christmas Album – Fresh Snow At Christmas”

Metro Atlanta Upcoming Christmas Events