Nothing says Christmas like a 102-degree heat index in downtown Nashville. It’s July in Music City, and while the rest of the country is debating pool floats and sunscreen, your favorite CCM artists are likely huddling inside a studio, cranking the AC, dimming the lights, sipping mediocre hot chocolate, lighting up mini trees from Hobby Lobby, and doing everything in their power to summon that holly jolly magic right now. Why? Because new Christmas music season starts the moment you polish off that last bite of Thanksgiving pie—and these artists want to be ready.
While we are still a bit away from cranking up the Andy Williams, Christmas tours are being announced faster than you can say : cotton-headed ninny muggins and the lineup is stacked.
Before we get to the tours, I do have an exciting announcement from our friends in Stryper! This year, the legendary metal band is trading in their signature yellow and black for red and green. That’s right—after four decades of fan requests, Stryper is officially releasing a Christmas album.
Frontman Michael Sweet shares, “Stryper fans worldwide have wanted a Christmas record for 40+ years. Now we can say that we have finally made this a reality.” The first single, “Still The Light,” drops just in time to crank up your Christmas in July playlist. As Sweet puts it, “Let’s celebrate Christmas in July and acknowledge that Jesus will always be The Reason for The Season!” Though it may be the first time they’ve released a Christmas album… they actually celebrated with us at CCM Magazine way back in 1986!
CHRISTMAS WITH CeCe Winans Tour
Just in time for the season, 17-time GRAMMY® Award winner CeCe Winans is bringing joy to the world—and to eight cities across the U.S.—with the launch of her highly anticipated 2025 Christmas with CeCe Winans tour.
This year? She’s not going solo. She’s bringing backup.
Enter powerhouse sisters Angie Winans and Debbie Winans, who’ll join CeCe onstage for what promises to be a faith-filled, family-powered holiday celebration. “I’m truly thankful for the opportunity to bring this Christmas tour to so many cities,” says CeCe. “There’s nothing like the joy and peace that this season brings and being able to share that through music is a blessing. I’m especially excited to be doing this with my sisters; it’s going to be a beautiful time of worship, celebration, and togetherness.” Get your tickets now! Her 2024 run sold out every city.
for KING + COUNTRY: A Drummer Boy Christmas Returns
After hitting major markets including Dallas, Atlanta, Orlando, Chicago and more – The Grand Ole Opry House will feel like Bethlehem this December, as Nashville’s own for KING + COUNTRY returns with a five-night residency: A Drummer Boy Christmas: The Live Experience, running December 15–19. This has quickly become a family tradition for some many locals and tourists.
The Smallbones are fresh off a brief hiatus (who dare they take a 11 months off? That might as well be a decade in the CCM world.) The duo’s triumphant return reminds us all: absence does make the heart grow fonder—and a little drum solo never hurts either.
Christmas Together: Michael W. Smith + Amy Grant + CeCe Winans
A Night of Legends is coming your way, as Michael W. Smith unites with Amy Grant and CeCe Winans for Christmas Together—a must-see lineup that practically smells like fresh pine or is that a WOW Christmas CDs?
Smitty doesn’t stop there. He follows up the with his own solo outing, the Every Christmas tour, culminating in a grand finale: three nights at the stunning Fisher Center on Belmont’s campus in Nashville. If Christmas had a closing ceremony, this would be it.
Mark, Did You Know ? (We’d be texting about in Christmas in July)
While I was celebrating the 108° heat index and thinking about these shows… I know one song will likely be featured in just about all of them. I texted my friend and CCM legend Mark Lowry. Known for his quick wit and comedic chops, Mark’s most famous contribution to music history is one of my personal favorite Christmas songs—one I think you can listen to all year long: “Mary, Did You Know?” I asked if I could hit him with four questions I’ve always wondered about the song… and here’s how the conversation went:
Logan:
Be honest—have you ever walked into a Walgreens, heard Mary, Did You Know?, and told the cashier you wrote it? And if so… did they believe you?
Mark:
No, but I did try to use it to meet Gladys Knight. I’d heard she’d considered recording it. I never got past her manager. She wasn’t impressed.
Logan:
Have you seen the memes and T-shirts that say “She knew”? Do you think they’re funny—or do they kind of miss the point of the song?
Mark:
Cute.
Logan:
Much like the ongoing “Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?” debate… do you think Mary, Did You Know? is strictly a Christmas song, or does it reach beyond the holiday season?
Mark:
It was first recorded by Michael English on his first solo project. That was not a Christmas CD. But the second person who recorded it was Kathy Mattea and it was on her Christmas project. So she christened it a Christmas song.
Logan:
Is it OK that I call you the Bruce Willis of Christmas songs?
Mark:
Why not?
Lady A Announces First-ever Christmas Tour and New Album
Speaking of Belmont University—arguably its most famous alums—Lady A is celebrating the season in a big way with their first-ever Christmas tour, “This Winter’s Night Tour,” kicking off December 5 in Atlanta at The Woodruff Arts Center’s Atlanta Symphony Hall.
The festive run will hit cities across Florida, Illinois, Indiana, and more, wrapping just before Christmas with a three-night hometown stand at Nashville’s iconic Ryman Auditorium, December 21–23.
The tour comes on the heels of their new holiday album, On This Winter’s Night Vol. 2, releasing September 26—a follow-up and companion to their beloved 2020 project On This Winter’s Night. The new record will feature a mix of holiday classics and fresh originals, all delivered with the group’s signature warmth and harmony.
“We have been in such a season of family and that’s the first thing we think of when we think of Christmas and the Holiday Season,” says Lady A’s Hillary Scott. “We hope this record and our first ever Christmas tour will be an opportunity for families and fans to usher in the Holiday Spirit with fun, joy and gratitude.”
Celebrate Christmas with Natalie Grant & Danny Gokey
The Celebrate Christmas Tour with Natalie Grant and Danny Gokey is back for its 10th consecutive year. With dates spanning the South—and a few festive stops in Baltimore, Springfield, and Washington, D.C.—this annual tradition has become CCM’s version of a non-stop tree lighting, complete with power vocals and Christmas sweaters.
The countdown has begun, the tickets are going fast, and the only thing missing is your ugly sweater. So grab your peppermint-scented sunscreen because in Nashville Christmas starts early!