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Carrie Underwood Speaks Out on ‘Challenges’ and ‘Blessings’ of 2020

In an interview released Thursday morning, Carrie Underwood touched on her upcoming Christmas album and opened up about the challenges and blessings of 2020.

Underwood spoke to Circle All Access Minute about preparing to release her first full-length Christmas album called My Gift. The country music star opened up about what a joy the process has been and admitted she “needed it” after a challenging year.

Underwood previously recorded five Christmas songs for her special holiday edition of her Carnival Ride album. The 2007 album was released as a Walmart exclusive.

Carrie Underwood Details New Christmas Album ‘My Gift

Through the years, the singer performed Christmas music on TV specials and collaborated on other artist’s Christmas songs. However, her new project will be her first full album of Christmas songs when it releases Friday, Sept. 25.

“I’ve never been lucky enough to get to do an entire (Christmas) album,” Underwood said. “This just seemed like the year.”

“I had to call it,” Underwood added, saying that she had to pump the breaks after finishing the tour cycle for 2018’s Cry Pretty album. Her team wrapped the tour in late 2019, and “as soon as the tour wrapped, we jumped right in,” she said.

“It was just such a blessing in so many ways to my life this year, because of all the challenges we faced recording and writing and just working,” Underwood said. “It was something that I got to pour myself into creatively.”

“It’s like, I needed it,” Underwood continued. “So I really hope when people listen to it, they’re like, ‘Oh, I needed this.’”

My Gift will include classics like “Oh Come All Ye Faithful,” “Mary Did You Know,” “Silent Night,” “Away in a Manger” and more. In addition, Underwood will perform some brand new songs she recorded just for the Christmas project.

There are a few surprises on the album as well. Underwood’s 5-year-old son Isaiah makes an appearance on “Little Drummer Boy” – another Christmas classic. And she also collaborated with John Legend on a song he wrote called “Hallelujah.”

Although, Underwood has focused on her new album, she’s also taken time for a couple other events in recent weeks. As the NFL season began, Underwood debuted a revamped ‘Sunday Night Football’ theme song. And just last week, the country star took home Entertainer of the Year at the 2020 ACM Awards, which she shared with Thomas Rhett in the award’s first ever tie.

[H/T Taste of Country]