Album cover. Butterfly / 12-Tone Music (190296823435) (2020)
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A Holly Dolly Christmas is the forty-seventh solo studio album by Dolly Parton. It was released by Dolly's own Butterfly Records and 12-Tone Music on October 2, 2020. The album was produced by Kent Wells with Dolly serving as executive producer. It is Dolly's third Christmas themed album, following 1984's Kenny Rogers collaboration, Once Upon a Christmas, and 1990's Home for Christmas. The album features collaborations with Michael Bublé, Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus, Jimmy Fallon, Willie Nelson, and Dolly's brother Randy. Five singles were released from the main album: "Mary, Did You Know?", "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus", "Christmas on the Square", "All I Want for Christmas Is You", and "Cuddle Up, Cozy Down Christmas". "I Still Believe" was released as a single to promote the Bonus Version of the album and the 2020 CBS TV special, A Holly Dolly Christmas. Two more singles were issued to promote the 2022 Ultimate Deluxe Edition: "A Smoky Mountain Christmas" and "Silent Night". The album received positive reviews from critics and peaked at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. It also peaked at number one on the Billboard Top Holiday Albums chart and number 16 on the Billboard 200. The album was nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.
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Track listing
- Holly Jolly Christmas (Johnny Marks) 3:22
- Christmas Is (featuring Miley Cyrus) (Dolly Parton) 3:17
- Cuddle Up, Cozy Down Christmas (duet with Michael Bublé) (Dolly Parton) 3:39
- Christmas on the Square (Dolly Parton) 3:15
- Circle of Love (Dolly Parton) 3:43
- All I Want for Christmas Is You (duet with Jimmy Fallon) (Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff) 4:05
- Comin' Home for Christmas* (Dolly Parton, Kent Wells) 4:29
- Christmas Where We Are (featuring Billy Ray Cyrus) (Jada Roberts, Barry Jobe) 3:11
- Pretty Paper (duet with Willie Nelson) (Willie Nelson) 3:34
- I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (Tommie Connor) 2:44
- You Are My Christmas (featuring Randy Parton) (Dolly Parton) 4:14
- Mary, Did You Know? (Mark Lowry, Buddy Greene) 4:27
* Previously released as a standalone single in 2009.
Amazon Exclusive streaming edition bonus tracks
13. The Wish Book (Dolly Parton) 1:32
14. Three Candles (Dolly Parton) 2:29
13. The Wish Book (Dolly Parton) 1:32
14. Three Candles (Dolly Parton) 2:29
8-track edition bonus track
13. The Wish Book (Dolly Parton) 1:32
13. The Wish Book (Dolly Parton) 1:32
Cassette edition bonus track
13. Three Candles (Dolly Parton) 2:29
13. Three Candles (Dolly Parton) 2:29
Bonus Version bonus track
13. I Still Believe (Performed live on A Holly Dolly Christmas TV Special) (Dolly Parton, Kent Wells) 3:50
13. I Still Believe (Performed live on A Holly Dolly Christmas TV Special) (Dolly Parton, Kent Wells) 3:50
2021 Deluxe Edition bonus tracks
13. I Still Believe (Performed live on A Holly Dolly Christmas TV Special) (Dolly Parton, Kent Wells) 3:50
14. Three Candles (Dolly Parton) 2:29
15. The Wish Book (Dolly Parton) 1:32
13. I Still Believe (Performed live on A Holly Dolly Christmas TV Special) (Dolly Parton, Kent Wells) 3:50
14. Three Candles (Dolly Parton) 2:29
15. The Wish Book (Dolly Parton) 1:32
2022 Ultimate Deluxe Edition bonus tracks
13. Three Candles (Dolly Parton) 2:29
14. The Wish Book (Dolly Parton) 1:32
15. Baby, It's Cold Outside Rod Stewart featuring Dolly Parton (Frank Loesser) 3:50
16. Something Bigger Than Me (Steve Dorff, Marty Panzer) 3:56
17. A Smoky Mountain Christmas (Dolly Parton) 2:10
18. (I'd Like to Spend) Christmas with Santa (Bill Owens) 2:13
19. Wrapped Up in You (Dolly Parton) 2:33
20. Silent Night (Franz Xaver Gruber, Joseph Mohr) 3:13
Notes:
13. Three Candles (Dolly Parton) 2:29
14. The Wish Book (Dolly Parton) 1:32
15. Baby, It's Cold Outside Rod Stewart featuring Dolly Parton (Frank Loesser) 3:50
16. Something Bigger Than Me (Steve Dorff, Marty Panzer) 3:56
17. A Smoky Mountain Christmas (Dolly Parton) 2:10
18. (I'd Like to Spend) Christmas with Santa (Bill Owens) 2:13
19. Wrapped Up in You (Dolly Parton) 2:33
20. Silent Night (Franz Xaver Gruber, Joseph Mohr) 3:13
Notes:
- Tracks 13 and 14 were previously released on the Amazon Exclusive streaming edition, 8-track edition (13), cassette edition (14), and the 2021 Deluxe Edition of the album.
- Track 15 was originally released on Rod Stewart's 2004 album Stardust: The Great American Songbook, Volume III.
- Tracks 17-19 are the recordings featured in the 1986 TV movie A Smoky Mountain Christmas, but this marks their first commercial release.
- Tracks 16 and 20 were originally released on the 1997 soundtrack album Annabelle's Wish.
Background
Dolly released "Comin' Home for Christmas" as a single in December 2009, but no mention of a Christmas album was made for almost seven years. She first mentioned that she was working on a new Christmas album during a Facebook Live Q&A in August 2016. She said that the album would be released in 2017 and would feature songs that she had written for the NBC TV movie Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love. The title song from the movie, "Circle of Love", was recorded by Jennifer Nettles, who played Dolly's mother in the film, for her 2016 Christmas album To Celebrate Christmas. The song was also recorded by Dolly's niece Heidi Parton for her 2017 album This Kind of Love. The album's release was delayed due to the release of Dolly's first children's album I Believe in You in 2017 and the Dumplin' soundtrack album in 2018. The album's release was mentioned again in April 2020 by Dolly's creative director Steve Summers, who mentioned in a YouTube livestream with Linda Perry that his team was working on preparations for the album photoshoot and that it would be coming out in 2020. Dolly prematurely announced the album's title in addition to two song titles and a few of the guest artists during an interview with Eddie Stubbs on WSM in July 2020. Following the broadcast, the interview was posted to WSM's SoundCloud page, but was deleted by mid-afternoon the next day.
Recording
The album was recorded at various studios from 2009 to 2020.
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Release and promotion
The album was formally announced on August 12, 2020, and was made available for pre-order the following day. It was released October 2 on CD, digital download, and streaming. Target stores offered an exclusive version of the album featuring an alternate cover. An enhanced version of the album was made available for streaming on Spotify featuring exclusive video content. An Amazon Exclusive edition of the album featuring two bonus tracks was made available for streaming on October 6. The album was released November 13 on LP after its release was pushed back from October 2 due to a manufacturing delay. The LP version was released on opaque red, green, and gold vinyl on Parton's website. The LP was released on white vinyl exclusively on Amazon in the UK and peppermint colored vinyl by Magnolia Record Club. It was also released on cassette and 8-track on November 13, each featuring one bonus track, available exclusively through Amazon. A "Bonus Version" of the album was released for digital download and streaming on December 4 with one bonus track, a live recording of "I Still Believe", from the CBS TV special A Holly Dolly Christmas. A Deluxe Edition of the album was released to digital music retailers and streaming services on October 29, 2021, featuring alternate artwork and all three bonus tracks: "I Still Believe", "Three Candles", and "The Wish Book". An Ultimate Deluxe Edition followed in 2022 featuring "Three Candles", "The Wish Book", "Baby, It's Cold Outside" with Rod Stewart from His 2004 album Stardust: The Great American Songbook, Volume III, "Something Bigger Than Me" and "Silent Night" from the 1997 soundtrack album Annabelle's Wish, and three track from Dolly's 1986 TV movie A Smoky Mountain Christmas, marking their first commercial release.
Singles
"Comin Home for Christmas" was released as a stand alone single on December 1, 2009. It would be included on A Holly Dolly Christmas eleven years after its initial release and peaked at number 31 on the Billboard Holiday Digital Song Sales chart.
The album's first single, "Mary, Did You Know?", was previewed in an article on Good Housekeeping's website on August 20, 2020, and was released to digital retailers the following day. It peaked at number 49 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart and number 18 on the Billboard Christian Digital Song Sales chart.
"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" was released as the second single on September 15.
The third single, "Christmas on the Square", was released on September 29 and peaked at number 49 on the Billboard Holiday Digital Song Sales chart.
"All I Want for Christmas Is You" and "Cuddle Up, Cozy Down Christmas" were released simultaneously to radio on October 2 as the fourth and fifth singles. "All I Want for Christmas Is You" was released to Country radio and peaked at number four on the Billboard Holiday Digital Song Sales chart. An animated music video directed by Alex Popkin was released on December 3. "Cuddle Up, Cozy Down Christmas" was released to Adult Contemporary stations and peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, number 48 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, number three on the Billboard Holiday Digital Song Sales chart, number 6 on the Billboard Canada AC chart, and number 80 on the UK Singles Chart. An animated music video directed by Alex Popkin premiered November 6 on Dolly's Facebook page and was released on YouTube the following day.
Dolly surprise released "I Still Believe" from her CBS Christmas special as a digital bonus track and the album's sixth single on December 4. It peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Country Digital Song Sales chart and number 32 on the Billboard Holiday Digital Song Sales chart.
"A Smoky Mountain Christmas", from Dolly's 1986 TV movie of the same name, was released August 26, 2022, as the first single from the album's Ultimate Deluxe Edition . The second single, Dolly's recording of "Silent Night" from the 1997 soundtrack album Annabelle's Wish, was released on September 23, 2022.
The album's first single, "Mary, Did You Know?", was previewed in an article on Good Housekeeping's website on August 20, 2020, and was released to digital retailers the following day. It peaked at number 49 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart and number 18 on the Billboard Christian Digital Song Sales chart.
"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" was released as the second single on September 15.
The third single, "Christmas on the Square", was released on September 29 and peaked at number 49 on the Billboard Holiday Digital Song Sales chart.
"All I Want for Christmas Is You" and "Cuddle Up, Cozy Down Christmas" were released simultaneously to radio on October 2 as the fourth and fifth singles. "All I Want for Christmas Is You" was released to Country radio and peaked at number four on the Billboard Holiday Digital Song Sales chart. An animated music video directed by Alex Popkin was released on December 3. "Cuddle Up, Cozy Down Christmas" was released to Adult Contemporary stations and peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, number 48 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, number three on the Billboard Holiday Digital Song Sales chart, number 6 on the Billboard Canada AC chart, and number 80 on the UK Singles Chart. An animated music video directed by Alex Popkin premiered November 6 on Dolly's Facebook page and was released on YouTube the following day.
Dolly surprise released "I Still Believe" from her CBS Christmas special as a digital bonus track and the album's sixth single on December 4. It peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Country Digital Song Sales chart and number 32 on the Billboard Holiday Digital Song Sales chart.
"A Smoky Mountain Christmas", from Dolly's 1986 TV movie of the same name, was released August 26, 2022, as the first single from the album's Ultimate Deluxe Edition . The second single, Dolly's recording of "Silent Night" from the 1997 soundtrack album Annabelle's Wish, was released on September 23, 2022.
Other charted songs
Following the album's release several of its tracks charted on the Billboard Holiday Digital Song Sales chart. "Circle of Love" peaked at number eight, "Pretty Paper" peaked at number 12, "Christmas Is" peaked at number 13, "Holly Jolly Christmas" peaked at number 16, "You Are My Christmas" peaked at number 21, and "Christmas Where We Are" peaked at number 34.
An animated music video directed by Alex Popkin was released for "Pretty Paper" on December 22, 2020.
An animated music video directed by Alex Popkin was released for "Pretty Paper" on December 22, 2020.
Television appearances
Dolly performed "Circle of Love", "Comin' Home for Christmas", and "Mary, Did You Know?" during a livestream event on Amazon Music titled Dolly Parton's Comin' Home for Christmas on November 13, followed by a Q&A hosted by Leslie Jordan. Dolly performed "Holly Jolly Christmas" from her studio in Nashville during a pre-recorded segment of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 26.
Dolly and Jimmy Fallon performed "All I Want for Christmas Is You" in addition to Dolly also performing "Mary, Did You Know?" during NBC's annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center tree-lighting ceremony on December 2. Both performances were pre-recorded at Dolly's studio in Nashville with Fallon’s portion being filmed in New York City on set of The Tonight Show. On December 4, Dolly appeared on The Graham Norton Show where she performed "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" via a pre-recorded performance from her studio in Nashville. Also on December 4, she hosted a livestream concert on Pandora with guests Brett Eldredge, Carly Pearce, and Tasha Cobbs Leonard. Dolly performed "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" and "Holly Jolly Christmas". During the Toronto Santa Claus Parade on December 5, Dolly performed "Holy Jolly Christmas" from her studio in Nashville during a pre-recorded segment. A pre-recorded video of Dolly performing "Christmas Is" from her home aired during Cyndi Lauper's tenth annual Home for the Holidays fundraiser livestream on December 11 on TikTok and December 13 on YouTube.
Dolly and Jimmy Fallon performed "All I Want for Christmas Is You" in addition to Dolly also performing "Mary, Did You Know?" during NBC's annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center tree-lighting ceremony on December 2. Both performances were pre-recorded at Dolly's studio in Nashville with Fallon’s portion being filmed in New York City on set of The Tonight Show. On December 4, Dolly appeared on The Graham Norton Show where she performed "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" via a pre-recorded performance from her studio in Nashville. Also on December 4, she hosted a livestream concert on Pandora with guests Brett Eldredge, Carly Pearce, and Tasha Cobbs Leonard. Dolly performed "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" and "Holly Jolly Christmas". During the Toronto Santa Claus Parade on December 5, Dolly performed "Holy Jolly Christmas" from her studio in Nashville during a pre-recorded segment. A pre-recorded video of Dolly performing "Christmas Is" from her home aired during Cyndi Lauper's tenth annual Home for the Holidays fundraiser livestream on December 11 on TikTok and December 13 on YouTube.
Television special
CBS aired a television special titled A Holly Dolly Christmas starring Dolly on December 6. She performed from an intimate, candlelit set while sharing personal Christmas stories and faith-based recollections of the season, interspersed with songs from the album. The special drew 6.2 million viewers and a 0.7 average rating among adults 18–49
Critical reception
A Holly Dolly Christmas received positive reviews from music critics. At Album of the Year, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 76 based on 4 reviews. In a review for AllMusic, Timothy Monger gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, saying that the album "offers up a heartfelt, compassionate, and joyous cup of holiday cheer." He noted that unlike 1990's Home for Christmas, this album features Parton originals, "some of which are quite good." Matt Melis gave the album a B rating in a review for Consequence of Sound, saying "it feels like the kind of gift we could all stand to find under the tree." He named "Christmas Is", "Christmas on the Square", and "Pretty Paper" as the album's essential tracks.
Commercial performance
The album debuted and peaked at number 16 on the Billboard 200 chart with 27,000 equivalent album units of which 26,000 were pure album sales. The album also debuted and peaked at number one on both the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and the Billboard Top Holiday Albums chart. In Europe the album peaked at number 11 on the Scottish Albums chart and number 16 on the UK Albums Chart.
The album has sold 171,000 units in the United States as of December 2020.
The album has sold 171,000 units in the United States as of December 2020.
Accolades
The album was nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the original album liner notes, the 2022 Ultimate Deluxe Edition, and Apple Music.
Original album
Performance
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Production
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Other personnel
- Hillary Adcock – seamstress
- Stacie Huckeba – photography
- Iisha Lemming – master draper
- Vance Nichols – set design
- Riley Reed – seamstress
- Cheryl Riddle – hair
- J.B. Rowland – art direction
- Rebecca Seaver – production
- Steve Summers – costume designer
Amazon Exclusive streaming edition bonus tracks
This section includes credits for "The Wish Book" and "Three Candles"
- Richard Dennison – keyboards, piano, harmony vocals, background vocals, producer
- Vicki Hampton – background vocals
- Tom Hoey – drums, percussion
- Jimmy Mattingly – mandolin
- Patrick Murphy – recording engineer
- Jennifer O'Brien – background vocals
- Dolly Parton – lead vocals
- Tom Rutledge – bass, acoustic guitar, producer, recording engineer
Bonus Version bonus track
This section includes credits for "I Still Believe"
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2022 Ultimate Deluxe Edition bonus tracks
This section includes credits for "Baby, It's Cold Outside", "Something Bigger Than Me", "A Smoky Mountain Christmas",
"(I'd Like to Spend) Christmas with Santa", "Wrapped Up in You", and "Silent Night".
"(I'd Like to Spend) Christmas with Santa", "Wrapped Up in You", and "Silent Night".
Performance
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Production
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