The sheer number of bluegrass Christmas music CDs makes choosing the ultimate playlist a daunting task. But the wide variety of artists and styles represented means there’s something to please everyone. These 15 bluegrass songs touch on themes are that cherished in both bluegrass culture and worldwide Christmas celebrations.
Classic Christmas Songs
Bluegrass artists have taken some of the greatest Christmas carols ever written and given them distinctive bluegrass touches.
"Away In a Manger" by Ricky Skaggs: Ricky Skaggs uses spare mountain instrumentation to set the humble scene for the lyrics.
"White Christmas" by Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers: With his deeply soulful vocal, Larry Sparks makes this Christmas classic his own.
"O, Christmas Tree" by Rhonda Vincent: Seamlessly incorporating driving fiddle and banjo with tight, three-part harmony, Rhonda Vincent makes this classic sound like a contemporary bluegrass original.
The longing for home and the natural beauty of the season are themes common to both bluegrass and Christmas celebrations in general. The mood of these songs ranges from the eagerly anticipatory to the bittersweet.
" Christmas Time’s ‘a Comin’ " by Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys: The notoriously prickly Monroe surrenders himself to youthful exuberance, and the “high lonesome sound” that characterizes bluegrass, in this joyful bluegrass Christmas classic.
"Christmas Is Near" by The Stanley Brothers: Ralph Stanley and his late brother, Carter epitomize the brother duet, reminiscing about childhood Christmases in their mountain home.
"Christmas Time Back Home" by The Country Gentlemen: John Duffey ’s soaring tenor and Eddie Adcock ’s ringing banjo add a jolt of bluegrass intensity to this portrait of a country Christmas.
"Bluegrass, White Snow: by Patty Loveless: Dolly Parton and Ricky Skaggs join in to help Patty Loveless make the case that Christmas isn’t complete without bluegrass music.
"Call Collect On Christmas" by The James King Band: Children leaving home and the constancy of a mother’s love are recurring themes in bluegrass music. These themes are featured in this song of a mother’s simple request of her wayward son.
The Birth of Jesus
Gospel music and Christian faith are cornerstones of bluegrass music and culture. The true test of a group’s vocal prowess is a bluegrass gospel trio or quartet number. Here are a few of the most breathtaking.
"Jesus Christ Is Born" by Ralph Stanley: Stanley uses twisting mountain harmonies and a rousing gospel chorus to retell the Christmas story and encourage listeners to do the same.
"Will We Have Room For Jesus" by Jimmy Martin: Martin wisely reflects on Jesus’ humble origins and how they might fit in to today’s Christmas celebrations.
"The Carpenter Shop" by The Bluegrass Cardinals: This country gospel-flavored Christmas song tells the story of the reason Jesus was born, both simply and beautifully.
"New Kid In Town" by The Isaacs: The Isaacs’ announcement of the birth of baby Jesus features slightly ironic lyrics, set off by luminous family harmony.
"Beautiful Star of Bethlehem" by Dailey & Vincent: In these evocative lyrics, the star of Bethlehem serves as a celestial guide to the baby Jesus, a metaphor for Jesus’ purpose in the world, and Jesus Himself.
"No Place For Jesus" by Big Country Bluegrass: This gospel quartet encourages the faithful, both ancient and modern, to find room for Jesus, whether on the first Christmas or all the Christmases to come.
"Last Month of the Year" by The Nashville Bluegrass Band with The Fairfield Four: The Nashville Bluegrass Band is renowned for their mastery of black gospel, one of the building blocks of traditional bluegrass gospel. Here, they join with their stylistic mentors, The Fairfield Four, in a live, call-and-response celebration of the birth of Jesus.
Christmas Songs Bluegrass Style
Bluegrass Christmas music offers an astonishing range of styles, moods, and viewpoints, and brings a feeling that’s simultaneously fresh and traditional to any Christmas celebration.
Diane Amov - Bluegrass singer/songwriter and classically-trained flautist who has written on bluegrass and American roots music since 2005.
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