In addition to his holiday single, “What God Wants for Christmas,” Darius Rucker’s new Home for the Holidays album contains a duet with special guest Sheryl Crow on the sexy “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” Though many duets are recorded separately, Darius and Sheryl were actually in the studio together to cut the song.

“When we got Sheryl to come and do it and after sitting there with her in the studio right next to each other singing it over and over and laughing and having a great time, I knew it was a great choice,” says Darius.

The crooner says he did the song for one reason, the movie Elf, starring Will Ferrell and Zooy Deschanel. “I decided to do that for one reason, for Elf, for that movie and how great they did it when she’s taking a shower in the bathroom, and he comes and sits on the counter and he’s singing along with her. I thought it was just a great song.”

Darius is also nearing the Top 10 on the country charts with his latest single, “Homegrown Honey,” which is the first release from his forthcoming album, due out next year.

Darius Rucker (Baby, It’s Cold Outside) OC: …great choice. :29
“‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ — I decided to do that for one reason, for Elf, for that movie and how great they did it when she’s taking a shower in the bathroom, and he comes and sits on the counter and he’s singing along with her. I thought it was just a great song. And we wanted to have another voice on the record somewhere and that was a great song to do it on. And then when we got Sheryl to come and do it and after sitting there with her in the studio right next to each other singing it over and over and laughing and having a great time, I knew it was a great choice.”