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20 Of Dolly Parton's Very Best Christmas Songs
Dolly Parton’s Christmas music has been a part of my life since I was a young teenager. Not a Christmas goes by since that I have not listened to her many Christmas albums, starting with my favorite holiday album of all time, her 1984 project with Kenny Rogers, Once Upon A Christmas. I first bought that on vinyl with babysitting money. I saved up just for it. Since then, I have purchased the album as a cassette, then a CD, and then digitally through Apple Music. It has always been a part of Christmas for my family and me.
I have been so fortunate in my career to have interviewed Dolly many times. Often, we talked about Christmas and the holidays. In an interview from 2016, I believe she said it best about Christmastime and family. Dolly told me then, “I just want families to feel closer together because we’ve just kind of scattered so much as a family because of all the new age and new technology, which is wonderful to have all these great things available to us, but I think we lose a lot and have lost a lot about family.” She added, “So, more than anything, I just want people to feel the joy of Christmas and what Christmas is really about, which is Jesus and about just that love of family and just feeling happy.”
Without further ado, here are Dolly’s 20 best Christmas songs.
20. “Cuddle Up, Cozy Down Christmas” (with Michael Bublé) – 2020
ShareA new Christmas standard; it's a duet with Michael Bublé. The cartoon video is just as fun as the song.
19. “The Little Drummer Boy” – 1990
ShareA classic performed to perfection by a classic.
18. “O Little Town of Bethlehem” – 1990
ShareI just love this song, and Dolly's version brings me right into the manger.
17. “Christmas on the Square” – 2020
ShareThis musical premiered on Netflix in 2020. A fantastic movie and a wonderful song.
16. “Holly Jolly Christmas” – 2020
ShareDolly's version holds up nicely, and Burl Ives would surely be proud.
15. “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” – 1990
ShareDolly's 1990 Christmas album seemed to be aimed at children as a chorus of some of her siblings' children sang along in the studio with "Aunt Granny," a nickname her young family members use for Parton.
14. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” – 1990
ShareAnother great remake from her 'Home For Christmas' album.
12. “Once Upon a Christmas” – 1984
ShareThis is an original song written by Dolly for her and Kenny Rogers' 'Once Upon A Christmas' album. It has now become a classic.
11. “With Bells On” – 1984
ShareAnother original from 'Once Upon A Christmas' album.
10. “I Believe in Santa Claus” – 1984
ShareOnce Upon A Christmas' has sold millions of copies since its release, and this song is a big reason why. The album's release was accompanied by a CBS television special, 'Kenny & Dolly: A Christmas to Remember.'
8. “You Are My Christmas” (featuring Randy Parton) – 2020
ShareA beautiful song she sings with her brother Randy. Back in the 1970s, Randy was in his big sister's band. Sadly, Randy passed away in January 2021.
7. “The Greatest Gift Of All” – 1984
ShareDolly wrote this for the 'Once Upon A Christmas' album.
6. “A Smoky Mountain Christmas” – 2022
ShareA song Dolly sings to close out her 2022 Christmas TV special movie "Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas" on NBC. The song is a gem and was resurrected from Parton's 1989 TV movie, "A Smoky Mountain Christmas."
5. “Go Tell It on the Mountain” – 1990
ShareA traditional classic Parton really dives into. I just love the Christmas morning church vibe it gives me.
4. “A Christmas to Remember” – 1984
ShareDuet with Kenny Rogers. Parton wrote this one too. It was the title of her and Kenny's TV special in 1984.
3. “Mary, Did You Know?” – 2020
ShareThe first song she released to tease the new Christmas album back in October 2020.
2. “Hard Candy Christmas” – 1984
ShareFirst recorded for the 1982 movie 'The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.' It was later put on her 1984 duet album with Kenny Rogers. Many have redone it over the years, including Reba in 2016.
1. “Christmas Without You” – 1984
ShareNot a Christmas had gone by since 1984 when I didn't listen to and sing along with this song. I've played it on vinyl, cassette, CD, and now on iTunes. It's one of my favorite Christmas songs of all time, and you know who wrote it? Yep, Dolly Parton!