(L-R, Top-Bottom) Alicia Keys (Alicia Keys Records), Switchfoot (Erik Frost), Backstreet Boys (K-BAHN) and Joss Stone (Nolan Knight)

There are a lot of new Christmas albums out this year, but there are also a lot of isolated songs that get released during the holiday season. We’ve compiled a list, which will continue to grow (so keep checking back!), of some of the latest holiday singles—and some stand-out tracks from recent yuletide albums—that we think you might enjoy! Check out the list below, and give them a listen.

Most of these songs are available on all streaming platforms.

Photo: Stacie Huckeba, Butterfly Records LLC

Dolly Parton has re-released her #1 best-selling 2020 holiday album, “A Holly Dolly Christmas,“ as an ultimate deluxe expansion that includes 8 additional tracks—including a duet of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” with Rod Stewart from his Grammy Award-winning 2004 album, “Stardust…the Great American Songbook, Volume III.”

The album, which is available in CD, vinyl and digital formats, also features the unreleased tracks, “A Smoky Mountain Christmas,” “(I’d Like To Spend) Christmas With Santa,” and “Wrapped Up In You” all from Dolly’s 1986 holiday film, A Smoky Mountain Christmas.

“Three Candles” and “The Wish Book” – originally released as digital-only bonus tracks – will make their CD and LP debuts on the Ultimate Deluxe Edition. Lastly, the album features the digital debut for “Something Bigger Than Me” and “Silent Night,” songs that Dolly contributed to the 1997 animated holiday film, Anabelle’s Wish.

This is a true collector’s edition of a Christmas album for every Dolly fan! Check out the full tracklisting below and order your copy at Amazon, or listen to the album on streaming platforms.

Photos and Key Art: NBCUniversal

NBC will air a special “The Voice” holiday event hosted by Carson Daly. This festive special will include appearances from an array of “Voice” coaches, past and present, along with performances from music superstars like Dolly Parton, Michael Bublé and Sia, as well as past contestants of the reality singing competition.

You can expect to hear a lot of holiday classics and popular modern favorites!

Photos and Key Art: NBCUniversal

The time-honored tradition of lighting the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree will take place tonight during the NBC special, “Christmas in Rockefeller Center,“ with a live telecast hosted by “TODAY” show co-anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Craig Melvin and Al Roker.

The iconic special will feature performances from top names in the business like Kelly Clarkson, Goo Goo Dolls, Earth, Wind & Fire, Brett Eldredge, Jimmy Fallon, Tori Kelly, Dolly Parton, Pentatonix, Dan + Shay, Gwen Stefani, Meghan Trainor, as well as the cast of Broadway’s “Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations” and the legendary Radio City Rockettes.

Top L-R: Tori Kelly (Capitol), Dan + Shay (WMG); Bottom L-R: Leslie Odom, Jr. (S-Curve), Carly Rae Jepsen (Interscope)

We’re barely into the middle of November and already the season has been filled with a plethora of new Christmas musical arrivals! So many performers are either releasing their first-ever holiday albums, returning with a follow-up, or sharing a Christmas song or two that they recently recorded to help fill an otherwise anxious season with some extra cheer.

I’ve compiled a list of some new festive songs, which I anticipate to be updating throughout the season. All songs listed are available to stream or buy on Apple Music, Amazon Music and Spotify.

Enjoy!

Photo: CBS

If you’ve been bopping along to Dolly Parton‘s latest holiday album, A Holly Dolly Christmas, you’re going to love this news… Dolly is getting a Christmas television special this year!

The country music superstar (and GLOBAL ICON), will share in the spirit of the season with a one-hour holiday special, “A Holly Dolly Christmas”! The special is set to broadcast on Sunday, December 6th at 8:30 pm (8:30-9:30 PM, ET/8:00-9:00 PM, PT) on the CBS Television Network and available to stream live and on demand on CBS All Access.

“I am so proud to be a part of the CBS family this holiday season with my new Christmas special,” the singer said in a press statement.

“When Dolly Parton calls and tells you she wants to do a Christmas show, you don’t hesitate,” said Jack Sussman, Executive Vice President, Specials, Music & Live Events/Alternative & Reality for CBS. “A special with the multi-Grammy Award-winning, prolific song-writing, epic live performer of all time? She had us at hello. There’s only one Dolly Parton, and we are so excited to be bringing her to viewers this holiday season.”

No word yet on whether or not any of the singers she collaborated with on the album, such as Michael Bublé, Miley Cyrus and Willie Nelson, will be a part of it. Although, I imagine they will find a way to make it happen.

“A HOLLY DOLLY CHRISTMAS” is produced by Sandollar Productions and NOZ Entertainment. Executive producers are Dolly Parton and Danny Nozell.

Stay merry!

Photo: NBC

For many, we’re already well into the holiday season, but for some Americans… it’s Thanksgiving that really sets their festive plans in motion, so today I bring you news on the 94th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®… and it’s going to look a lot different this year.

Given the state of the world right now, it should come at no surprise that many precautions are being taken to ensure safety during the iconic Thanksgiving Day celebration this year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t look forward to a tradition that so many hold dear.

So, how is this all moving forward? According to an official website statement:  On Thanksgiving Day, we will showcase our annual celebration’s signature balloons, floats, performances and herald the arrival of Santa Claus, in front of Macy’s famed flagship store on 34th Street for our national television special on NBC. To ensure a safe experience for all involved, we are not marching down the streets of Manhattan this year and instead will bring all the magic of this American tradition to you on television and online. In preparation for this one-of-a-kind celebration, the Macy’s team meticulously reviewed every area of the Parade playbook to put in place enhanced health and safety practices that align with CDC guidelines, as well as local and state government protocols.

The New York Times reports that in addition to traveling just one city block down 34th Street, as opposed to their two-and-a-half-mile route starting at West 77th Street, the streets surrounding the route will be closed off and the floats will be driven by utility vehicles, rather than the usual uniformed handlers, to limit the number of people involved.

There will be many pretaped performances, including Broadway entertainment, and an appearance from a ballerina from the New York City Ballet who will dance as the Sugar Plum Fairy from George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker,“ which was canceled this season.

Photos: CBS

So much has changed this year, but there are a few things that stay merrily the same… and CBS is doing their part to keep tradition alive in our homes this holiday season!   Their beloved lineup returns with the “CBS Thanksgiving Day Celebration” highlighting Thanksgiving parades past, and you can count on the following weekend to be filled with your favorite animated classics like “Frosty the Snowman”, “The Story of Santa Claus” and “Robbie the Reindeer”.  The network will also premiere a brand-new holiday special from country music icon Dolly Parton.

Missing from the lineup? The annual “Home for the Holidays” special, which doesn’t seem to be airing due to the pandemic, and I don’t recall a mention of there being a virtual angle for it this year.

Additionally, there was no mention of the treasured “I Love Lucy Christmas” special this year, but I’ll keep you posted should it get added to the schedule.

Find out what’s airing below!

Photos: Williams-Sonoma, Inc.

In an addition to with releasing a brand new Christmas album this month, Country music icon Dolly Parton, is teaming up with retailer Williams-Sonoma, Inc. this holiday season to launch a collection inspired by Dolly’s own holiday traditions, which includes her signature sugar cookie mix, a replica gingerbread log cabin reminiscent of her childhood home, and a Christmas patchwork apron along with matching oven mitts.

“Sharing my families’ Christmas traditions is a dream come true, and who better to partner with than Williams Sonoma. We joined together to create a whole bunch of goodies that will fit in perfectly with your family celebration or get you started on creating new traditions that will last a lifetime,” Dolly said in an official statement.

“My mama always made us feel loved by making us treats in our little mountain cabin around the holidays. Now I get to invite all my nieces and nephews and their kids for what we like to call ‘cookie night’. It’s the perfect way to spend time with the special people on your Christmas list.”

Photo: Butterfly Records/12Tone Music

Dolly Parton wants to help you ring in the holiday season with a brand new Christmas album, A Holly Dolly Christmas, which will also be Dolly’s first Christmas album in 30 years!

The new holiday album will feature renditions of festive classics as well as a few original songs; the iconic country artist wrote five songs by herself, with an additional co-write with Kent Wells, who also serves as producer for the album.

A Holly Dolly Christmas will include several duets with beloved artists, including: Miley Cyrus (“Christmas Is”), Billy Ray Cyrus (“Christmas Where We Are”), Willie Nelson (“Pretty Paper”), Dolly’s brother Randy Parton (“You Are My Christmas”), a cover of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” performed alongside Jimmy Fallon, and “Cuddle Up, Cozy Down Christmas” with Michael Bublé, which is set as the first single.