Besides his instant festive hit, what else does the big, big fan of Christmas listen to when getting in the spirit? The country star put together a master playlist of essential holiday tracks for Billboard, and provided an explanation behind each choice.
“These are Christmas songs I grew up on,” he shared. “Every time I listen, they take me back to my favorite Christmas memories.”
Check out Allen’s favorite holiday songs below, and scroll to the bottom for a playlist of all 13 tracks.
1. Jimmie Allen, Louis York & The Shindellas, “What Does Christmas Mean”
“I loved collaborating with Louis York and The Shindellas, two groups I have so much respect for. This was our original take on Christmas music.”
2. Mariah Carey, “All I Want for Christmas Is You”
“You can’t celebrate Christmas and not play this song.”
3. Nat King Cole, “The Christmas Song”
“This is a classic, through and through.”
4. Bing Crosby, “It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas”
“The kind of song that makes you want to curl up by the fire.”
5. Boyz II Men & Brian McKnight, “Let It Snow”
“I’m a huge fan of both of these acts – and the fact that it’s a Christmas song makes it even better.”
6. The Drifters, “White Christmas”
“This song is as catchy as it is timeless.”
7. Bobby Helms, “Jingle Bell Rock”
“Pretty much the first Christmas song anyone ever learns… a staple!”
8. Burl Ives, “A Holly Jolly Christmas”
“This one gets me in the holiday mood!”
9. The Jackson 5, “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”
“Upbeat, fun, and sentimental all at once. Gotta love young MJ.”
10. Chuck Berry, “Run Rudolph Run”
“Classic rock, Chuck Berry, and Christmas – you can’t name a better combination.”
11. José Feliciano, “Feliz Navidad”
“A song that makes you want to dance as much as you want to sing.”
12. Dean Martin, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”
“Elf fan, anyone?”
13. John Lennon & Yoko Ono, “Happy Xmas”
“Ending my playlist on a high note… this’ll get stuck in your head for days.”
