After 25 years in the making, Little Big Town has finally entered the Christmas Album scene.

Unlike many artists who dive into festive recordings early in their careers, the seasoned country group—consisting of Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Jimi Westbrook, and Phillip Sweet—waited until everything was just right to create “The Christmas Record.” This 11-track collection, which was released earlier this month, features their signature harmonies on beloved classics, such as Amy Grant’s “Tennessee Christmas” and Vince Guaraldi’s evocative “Christmas Time is Here,” along with five original songs.

The lead single, “Glow,” is paired with a visually stunning video filmed during their tour in Switzerland.

“It felt like a scene from a movie, but it was real,” Fairchild remarked about Gstaad. “It was nestled in the Alps, surrounded by charming little towns that seemed like picturesque villages. I would love to visit again.”

As is often the case with holiday albums, they recorded it over the summer, balancing the heat of Savannah, Georgia, at producer Dave Cobb’s studio while singing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

Little Big Town prepares for a holiday special

According to Fairchild, Little Big Town first contemplated releasing a Christmas album five years ago, but their schedule was hectic. “Every year something came up, whether it was family or work commitments… we finally completed it in the spring and we’re really proud of it. We dedicated a lot of effort to the songwriting,” she shared.

In the Fairchild-Westbrook household, there are various holiday musical traditions in place (the couple, married since 2006, has a teenage son), starting with The King.

“Jimi is a massive Elvis admirer, so we traditionally kick off our celebrations by playing ‘Elvis’ Christmas Album,’” Fairchild noted, adding that their album features a rendition of “Santa Claus is Back in Town,” which Elvis made famous in 1957. “We also enjoy Harry Connick Jr.’s album (‘When My Heart Finds Christmas’) and love the song ‘I Pray on Christmas,’ which we almost included on our album. Perhaps it will be part of an extended version!”

The group also recently recorded a two-hour holiday special titled “Little Big Town’s Christmas at The Opry,” which is set to air on December 16 on NBC. Fairchild was thrilled with the look of the set, describing it as reminiscent of a “1970s Sonny & Cher show mixed with the classic Johnny Cash and Barbara Mandrell specials,” and she was impressed by guests like Josh Groban, Dan + Shay, Sheryl Crow, and Kelsea Ballerini.

The bond between Little Big Town and Sugarland

Kelsea Ballerini also features in Little Big Town’s recently launched “Greatest Hits” album. The “Miss Me More” artist joins them for the heartfelt “Shut Up Train” from the 2010 album “The Reason Why,” while Miranda Lambert adds her twist to “Little White Church.” Additionally, the band currently shares a tour with longtime friends Sugarland, with whom they’ve created a wonderful cover of Phil Collins’ 1985 hit “Take Me Home.”

“We share a deep connection as friends,” Fairchild said regarding Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush. “We have spent countless years on the road together, and many nights would find us playing cards after their shows if we were nearby.”

The 18-date arena tour began on October 24 and will visit various cities, including Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, and Austin, before concluding in Nashville on December 13.

The tour is titled “Take Me Home,” a name chosen for a couple of significant reasons.

“(The song) serves as a nostalgic anthem from one of the most legendary artists ever,” she explained. “It captures a sense of nostalgia but is also a moment of coming full circle with all of us reuniting.”