Multi-platinum-selling recording artist Josh Turner releases his first-ever Christmas album, King Size Manger, available worldwide today – listen here. The holiday project features fresh interpretations of beloved classics and introduces four originals, three of which were written or co-written by Turner. Plus, Turner is joined by his wife Jennifer and his four sons who sing on the holiday classic, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.” In support of the album, Turner will embark on his first Christmas tour, Holiday & The Hits, an 18-city tour where the album will come to life alongside Turner’s most notable hits. Tickets available here.
In addition to his first-ever Christmas tour, Turner will host and be the featured guest artist for the 2021 “Christmas at Belmont” performance, which will be filmed for national broadcast. Produced by Nashville Public Television (NPT), “Christmas at Belmont” will be taped live for the first time in the newly opened Fisher Center for the Performing Arts on the University’s campus. The invitation-only concert performance features nearly 650 student musicians and School of Music faculty and will be broadcast nationally for the 19th consecutive year on PBS. This year’s show features an array of traditional carols, classical masterworks and seasonal favorites in addition to selections from Turner’s new Christmas album. “Christmas at Belmont” premieres Monday, Dec. 20, at 8 p.m. on NPT and PBS stations across the country, with encore broadcasts on NPT Christmas night (Saturday, Dec. 25) at 9:30 p.m. Check local listings for additional broadcast times. For more information, visit www.belmont.edu.
Turner arranged five of the 11 tracks on King Size Manger and its four original songs include the solo penned “Mele Kalikimaka My ‘Ohana” featuring world renowned ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro and Grammy-nominated Hawaiian trio Ho’okena. Turner also wrote “What He’s Given Me” with Pat McLaughlin, as well as the title track “King Size Manger” with Mark Narmore. Christmas music fans will find the beloved classics “Silent Night, Holy Night,” “Go Tell It On The Mountain,” as well as “Joy To The World” featuring Grammy Award winning bluegrass singer Rhonda Vincent. The album also includes the poignant Scooter Carusoe/Tom Douglas track “Soldier’s Gift,” which is the album’s lead single.
“I loved what the song says and musically, it’s laid back enough to where it grabs your attention where you really focus on the words,” says Turner about lead single “Soldier’s Gift”. “There are so many families and so many members of our military that could relate to this song. And it fit with all the other songs and added to the variety and subject matter on this record.”
King Size Manger Track Listing:
- Angels We Have Heard On High
- What He’s Given Me (Featuring Pat McLaughlin)*
- King Size Manger*
- Joy To The World (Featuring Rhonda Vincent)
- Soldier’s Gift*
- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Featuring The Turner Family)
- Go Tell It On The Mountain
- Mele Kalikimaka My ‘Ohana (Featuring Jake Shimabukuro and Ho’okena)*
- The First Nowell
- Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town
- Silent Night, Holy Night
Produced by Kenny Greenberg
*denotes original
Holiday & The Hits Tour Schedule:
11/18 Holland, MI – Holland Civic Center
11/19 Springfield, IL – University of Illinois PAC
11/20 Joliet, IL – Rialto Square Theatre
11/21 Rockford, IL – Coronado PAC
11/26 Panama City Beach, FL – Aaron Bessant Park
11/27 Memphis, TN – Soundstage at Graceland
11/28 Meridian, MS – MSU Riley Center
12/2 Prescott, AZ – Yavapai College PAC
12/3 Maricopa, AZ – Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino
12/4 Las Vegas, NV – The Venetian Theatre
12/9 Mt. Vernon, KY – Renfro Valley Entertainment Center
12/10 Riverside, IA – Riverside Casino
12/11 Prior Lake, MN – Mystic Lake Casino Hotel
12/16 Midland, MI – Midland Center For The Arts
12/17 Wisconsin Dells, WI – Crystal Grand Music Theatre
12/19 Royal Oak, MI – Royal Oak Music Theatre
12/20 Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
12/21 Knoxville, TN – Knoxville Civic Auditorium
To purchase tickets to Holiday & The Hits Tour click HERE
*High Resolution Tour Admat HERE
Audio / Josh Turner talks about releasing his first Christmas album.
DownloadJosh Turner (releasing KSM) OC: …to the public. :39
“The last two records that I’ve done have been somewhat of, you know, a passion project, you know, the gospel record, the influences record, Country State Of Mind. And so, while I was just kind of in that groove of doing passion projects, we felt like it was appropriate to do a Christmas record, because like you say, everybody’s been waiting for one, you know, from me for a long time, and I honestly didn’t know, you know, what it was going to be like going into that process, because, like I said, people been asking for one for years, but it’s glad to finally have one ready to go and ready to release to the public.”
