Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, it’s time to put up the Christmas tree, whether it’s real or fake. The members of Lady Antebellum all agree that they love a real tree, but a fake tree is much easier to deal with, especially since it’s up for more than a month.

“I would love to have a real tree, and we used to have it, and I always wondered why I couldn’t breathe,” says Charles Kelley. “Dave and I share, we’re allergic to everything in this world, so we have to have fake trees.”

Dave agrees, “Most people [can handle] the cleanup and the smell, but for me it’s just a little too much maintenance at Christmas time,” says Dave Haywood. “I’d rather focus on [HILLARY: “The family.”] presents, family, food [CHARLES: “And drinking.”], so then the tree just pops in the attic for good.” 

In trimming the tree, some of their childhood ornaments come into play. “My mom, I gave her such a hard time when I was a little girl, because she went to some store and got these, it’s like snowmen with an icicle hanging down from the bottom, so I thought they were so gawdy,” says Hillary Scott. “Now that I’m older, I love ‘em. And if they’re not on the tree, I’m like, ‘Mama, where are they? Where are the snowmen icicle lights this year?’”

In 2012, Lady A released their first Christmas album, On This Winter’s Night, which includes several favorites, including “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Blue Christmas” and “Silver Bells,” among others.

AUDIO: Lady Antebellum discuss real or fake trees for Christmas.

Lady A (real vs fake trees) OC: (Charles) …the lights up. :47
DAVE/HILLARY: “Fake tree!” 

CHARLES: “I would love to have a real tree, and we used to have it and I always wondered why I couldn’t breathe. [LAUGHS] Dave and I share, we’re allergic to everything in this world, so we have to have fake trees.”

HILLARY: “They’re not as messy. [CHARLES: “And who wants their house to burn down accidentally?”] They still kinda shed anyway like a real tree, but I don’t know, I just feel like the sap and everything, it gets on my floor.”

DAVE: “Which some people love! Most people … the cleanup and the smell, but for me it’s just a little too much maintenance at Christmas time. I’d rather focus on [HILLARY: “The family.”] presents, family, food [CHARLES: “And drinking.”], so then the tree just pops in the attic for good.” 

HILLARY: [LAUGHS] “Pre-lit tree.”

CHARLES: “Omigosh, you’re going super laziness.”

DAVE: “You at least need to put some lights on.”

CHARLES: “At least string the lights up.”

AUDIO: Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott recalls some of her mom’s ornaments she thought was tacky when she was a child, but insists now that they hang on the tree. 

Lady A (Hillary—tackiest ornaments) OC: …this year? [laughs] :20
“My mom, I gave her such a hard time when I was a little girl, because she went to some store and got these, it’s like snowmen with an icicle hanging down from the bottom, so I thought they were so gawdy. But you know what? Now that I’m older, I love ‘em. And if they’re not on the tree, I’m like, ‘Mama, where are they? Where are the snowmen icicle lights this year?” [laughs]

AUDIO: Lady A’s Charles Kelley says he has some of his own childhood handmade ornaments on his tree…much to his wife’s chagrin.

Lady A (Charles trimming the tree) OC: …she relented. :25
“My mom actually sent me some of our old ornaments that we had made and stuff. We always had the cheesiest tree (HILLARY: “Homemade…”), but I miss it. It was always so very colorful. And with my wife, she’s very stylish and chic, and so she wanted this really chic tree, and so she wanted this really chic tree, and I said, ‘Baby, I’m sorry. We’ve got to put a little color in this.’ So, I put some of my cheesy little stuff on there, and I think that’s part of Christmas. I think you have to have that, so she relented.”