Country music superstar Jamie O’Neal displayed her Christmas spirit this season with a brand new Christmas album. We sat down with her to discuss it, along with her favorite Christmas traditions.
Spirit & Joy
With cuts from Reba McEntire, Martina McBride, Idina Menzel and more, the ten-track album includes some of our favorite holiday tunes, along with three originals, “Christmas You,” “Gulf of Mexico” and “You Were Christmas to Me.”
O’Neal invited several of her family members to participate, too. She co-produced it with her husband Rodney Good, a platinum-certified recording engineer (Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton) and asked her dad, sister, and daughter to sing on it as well.
Believe it or not, this is O’Neal’s first Christmas album and the first time recording with her husband. When I asked her why they hadn’t done so until now, she responded that it was simply a matter of timing. “I just think sometimes you’re so busy and it would make sense to have recorded together before now, but we just didn’t get around to it,” O’Neal shared.
“Gulf of Mexico”
O’Neal wrote “Gulf of Mexico” with her husband and father. She describes it as a “wishful thinking” song, since her father has always loved the idea of going to the Gulf of Mexico for Christmas, but they tend to revert to their usual plans.
Spending time in warmer climates over the holidays is no foreign concept to O’Neal. She spent many Christmases in Australia while she lived there and described the astonishing scene of surfers in red speedos and Santa hats.
Christmas Traditions
Coming from a musical family, it’s not surprising that they sing karaoke during family gatherings. “I have a really big family and they all sing,” she said.
Another tradition O’Neal looks forward to is making Aussie roasted potatoes, which are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. She also looks forward to Aunt Betty’s sweet potato casserole, which she makes intuitively, rendering it difficult to replicate.
“Christmas” Lyric Video
Jamie O’Neal Spirit & Joy Track Listing:
- Christmas – written by Jeffrey Steele
- Christmas You – written by Jamie O’Neal, Corey Lee Barker
- Please Come Home for Christmas Feat. Rodney Good – written by Charles Brown, Gene Redd
- White Christmas – written by Irving Berlin
- I’ll Be Home for Christmas – written by Kim Gannon, Walter Kent
- Gulf of Mexico – written by Jamie O’Neal, Rodney Good, Jimmy Murphy
- Do You Hear What I Hear? Feat. Jimmy Murphy, Melissa Murphy and Aliyah Good – written by Noel Regne, Gloria Shayne
- You Were Christmas to Me – written by Jamie O’Neal, Corey Lee Barker
- River – written by Joni Mitchell
- Silver Bells Feat. Collin Raye – written by Jay Livingston, Ray Evans
Future Christmas Plans
O’Neal expressed interest in releasing Christmas music on vinyl, as well as doing another Christmas album in the future.
Connect with Jamie O’Neal
- Website: https://www.jamieoneal.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamieONealMusic
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamieonealofficial
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamieONeal
