Just When Fans Thought He’d Done It All, Willie Nelson Drops a Holiday Song That Feels Like Coming Home. ML
Willie Nelson to Release New Holiday Single “Christmas Love Song” on October 24 — Ahead of Upcoming Album Workin’ Man: Willie Sings Merle
(NEW YORK) — Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, has announced that country legend Willie Nelson will release a brand-new holiday single, “Christmas Love Song,” on Friday, October 24. The release comes just weeks before Nelson’s highly anticipated new studio album, Workin’ Man: Willie Sings Merle, set to arrive on November 7.
A Heartfelt Holiday Offering
Written by Bill Anderson, Bobby Tomberlin, and Marv Green, “Christmas Love Song” captures the warmth, humility, and timeless charm that have defined Nelson’s career. Produced by Buddy Cannon, Nelson’s longtime creative partner, the track features his signature vocals and unmistakable guitar, Trigger, supported by an ensemble of Nashville’s finest musicians — including harmonica virtuoso Mickey Raphael.
“It ain’t a lot but every word of it’s true /
It don’t sparkle or shine /
But it’s one of a kind /
And I put my whole heart into /
This Christmas love song to you.”
The track, described by insiders as one of Nelson’s most tender holiday recordings to date, continues his celebrated history with Christmas music.
A New Chapter in a Classic Tradition
Nelson’s RIAA Platinum-certified 1979 holiday album Pretty Paper remains a cornerstone of country Christmas collections. The album’s title track, originally a hit for Roy Orbison, has since become a standard, earning Pretty Paper a spot on Rolling Stone’s “25 Greatest Christmas Albums of All Time.”
AllMusic hailed the project as “one of the finest country holiday records ever released,” noting Nelson’s gift for making even well-worn classics like “White Christmas” and “Silent Night” feel “fresh and unpredictable.”
Now, more than four decades later, “Christmas Love Song” adds a new jewel to Nelson’s holiday legacy — a song that feels as personal as it is universal.
Looking Ahead: Workin’ Man: Willie Sings Merle
The new single arrives ahead of Nelson’s forthcoming studio album, Workin’ Man: Willie Sings Merle, a heartfelt tribute to his friend and collaborator Merle Haggard. The project features 11 newly recorded versions of Haggard’s classics, including “Workin’ Man Blues,” “Mama Tried,” “Okie From Muskogee,” “If We Make It Through December,” and “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink.”
Available in all formats on November 7, the album highlights Nelson’s lifelong connection to Haggard’s songwriting and spirit. A lyric video for “Christmas Love Song” will follow on November 18.
For fans, this season promises something special — a time to celebrate the past, embrace the present, and share in Willie’s enduring gift: music that feels like home.
