Forget the Carols You Know—Willie Nelson’s “Christmas Love Song” Sounds Like a Letter Straight from the Heart. ML
Willie Nelson Returns with Tender New Holiday Track “Christmas Love Song” — Plus a Full Merle Haggard Tribute Album Coming in November
Willie Nelson isn’t slowing down anytime soon. At 92, the Country Music Hall of Famer is preparing to gift fans two new musical treasures this fall: a brand-new holiday single, “Christmas Love Song,” out October 24, and an 11-track studio album honoring Merle Haggard, titled Workin’ Man: Willie Sings Merle, arriving November 7 via Legacy Recordings.
A Song That Feels Like a Hug
“Christmas Love Song” is more than just another seasonal single — it’s a return to warmth, simplicity, and sincerity. Written by country legend Bill Anderson with hitmakers Bobby Tomberlin and Marv Green, the ballad is classic Willie: intimate, poetic, and quietly profound.
“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.”
Produced by longtime collaborator Buddy Cannon, the recording features Nelson’s instantly recognizable phrasing and his weathered guitar, Trigger, backed by Nashville’s finest studio musicians. Longtime harmonica player Mickey Raphael adds the final touch — that unmistakable Nelson sound that fans have loved for decades.
The Return of Willie’s Christmas Magic
Holiday songs have always held a special place in Willie’s catalog. His 1979 album Pretty Paper, now a certified platinum classic, redefined what a country Christmas record could be. It remains one of the genre’s most beloved seasonal works, earning critical praise for its blend of sincerity and subtlety.
Rolling Stone ranked Pretty Paper among its “25 Greatest Christmas Albums of All Time,” while AllMusic called it “one of the finest country holiday records ever released.”
Now, “Christmas Love Song” feels like a continuation of that legacy — heartfelt, honest, and completely timeless.
Workin’ Man: A Tribute from the Heart
If “Christmas Love Song” captures the tenderness of the season, Workin’ Man: Willie Sings Merle pays tribute to one of Nelson’s closest friends and collaborators, Merle Haggard.
The 11-song collection revisits Haggard’s classics, including “Swinging Doors,” “Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down,” “Okie From Muskogee,” “Ramblin’ Fever,” and “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink.” The project spans Haggard’s career, from early hits to later masterpieces, all filtered through Willie’s unmistakable delivery.
With the release of the single, followed by a lyric video on November 18, and the full album in November, Nelson continues to remind fans why his music — like the man himself — never loses its light.
