Blake Shelton’s Christmas Cheer

Blake Shelton has found a new way to keep cool in the hot LA heat.  He’s been recording a Christmas album in his Hollywood Hills home.  He told Country Countdown USA’s Lon Helton that this is a project he’s been wanting to do for a long time: “It’s actually a record that we’ve been talking about for three years.  Now with the TV exposure, we figure this is the perfect time to do it.  This will probably be the only one I do.  I can’t see myself doing another one.  I wanted it to be timeless, because I don’t see myself doing this again.”

One of the favors Blake called in was with pop singer Michael Buble.  “I had to get in touch with Michael Buble.  I said here’s what I want to do.  I want to do a duet, and I want you to rewrite the lyrics of ‘Home’ and make it a Christmas song.  I got an email back from him, saying ‘I’m on it, it’s awesome,’ and about a week later, he sent me the lyrics and asked ‘How’s this?’  And I said, ‘It’s good, the only thing I need is for you to sing on it,’ and it worked out great because he’s also my mentor this year on The Voice.  So he did it at the same time.”

Blake says his Christmas album contains several classics, plus four new songs.  “One of them I co-wrote with my mother.  I told her to think of Christmas song ideas, and I took one of them and we wrote it together, plus she sings on it.  It’s called ‘Time For Me To Come Home,’ and it’s about going home and seeing your mom for Christmas, and it’s my favorite thing on the album.”

In addition to Blake’s mother and Michael Buble, there are several other guests: “I wanted to record ‘There’s a New Kid In Town,’ which was co-written by Keith Whitley, and has been recorded by Alan Jackson and others.  So I asked Kelly Clarkson to sing on it, and she says, ‘I don’t know that song,’ and I realized it’s a country Christmas song.  Miranda and I did ‘Jingle Bell Rock,’ which I thought was perfect, and Pistol Annies sing ‘Blue Christmas,’ and I tried to channel my best Elvis, and then Reba McEntire came in and did ‘Oklahoma Christmas.’  It’s kind of a western swing song, with inside jokes where you have to be from Oklahoma to know about.”

Blake Shelton’s holiday CD, “Cheers It’s Christmas” will be available on October 2.

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