15 Forgotten Christmas Albums + Songs From Megastars
Ahh, the Christmas album. It's somewhat of an industry standard. You know you've made it when you've put out a hit holiday disc! But few are brave enough to take on the challenge and many decide to just test the waters with a Christmas single. Either way, the artists who try should be commended for their efforts, even if they're forgotten over the years. Get ready to wipe the dust off of 15 festive albums and songs put out in years past by megastars.
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My Kind of Christmas (2000) by Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera's exuberant voice can sometimes come off as overkill, but her festive album My Kind of Christmas is an exception.
Ashanti's Christmas (2003) by Ashanti
Ashanti's Christmas may have flopped, but such is the risk of the Christmas album. Her latest attempt A Wonderful Christmas With Ashanti was a nobler one, but she still managed to imbue her honeyed voice and personal flair in her first holiday album.
Let It Snow (2003) and Christmas (2011) by Michael Bublé
Velvet-voiced crooner Michael Bublé released a Christmas EP in 2003 followed by a full-length album aptly titled Christmas in 2011. In typical Bublé fashion, Christmas is supported by a full orchestra, and is peppered with time-honored classics like "Holly Jolly Christmas," "Silent Night," and "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town."
Rejoyce: The Christmas Album (2004) and Happy Christmas (2010) by Jessica Simpson
Jessica Simpson has two Christmas albums in the bag, so she's good for... another few years? Ex-husband and Big Morning Buzz Live host Nick Lachey even partnered with the songstress for The Christmas Album in 2004.
A Dipset Christmas (2006) by Jim Jones
It couldn't be more aptly titled. Christmas album titles often border on corny, but with a name like this one, how could Jim Jones' holiday album about "livin' fast and ballin' at Christmas time" be forgotten through the years?
Sounds of the Season: The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection (2007) by Taylor Swift
Back when she was still a budding country star, Taylor Swift released Sounds of the Season: The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection. Included on the album is Swift's cover of Wham!'s evergreen "Last Christmas," which goes to show that Swift was singing about heartbreak long before Harry Styles or John Mayer broke her heart.
Noel (2007) by Josh Groban
"Believe," Josh Groban's popular Christmas track from The Polar Express, isn't on the singer's Christmas album-- it's on the movie soundtrack. Groban's own holiday album came out in 2007, a few years after The Polar Express was released.
"Christmas Tree" (2008) by Lady Gaga
Leave it to Gaga to put out a Christmas song that couldn't have less to do with Christmas and more to do with sex. Le sigh, Gaga. We're still waiting on a Gaga Christmas album to come out. You know you are, too.
All Wrapped Up! (2008) featuring the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, Plain White T's, and Demi Lovato
All Wrapped Up!, though brief, packs in seven Disney star-studded Christmas pop songs. It even includes the Motown arrangement of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" sung by Miley Cyrus, or more appropriately, Hannah Montana.
"Winter Wonderland" (2009) by Selena Gomez
She tried it, but Gomez's hard rock version of the Christmas classic feels a little forced. Perhaps it's best to let this one go unnoticed.
Merry Christmas II You (2010) by Mariah Carey
We've all heard the riff-tacular "All I Want For Christmas Is You" from Mariah Carey's 1994 Christmas album, Merry Christmas, but what about her second holiday album? The follow-up may not be as popular as the first, but maybe that just goes to show just how good old school Mariah was.
Under the Mistletoe (2011) by Justin Bieber
Christmas Beliebers everywhere rejoiced when Justin Bieber released his holiday album Under the Mistletoe. The darling jingle "Mistletoe" gave way to a slew of covers, including this one by Meghan Trainor.
Wrapped in Red (2013) by Kelly Clarkson
Surprisingly enough, Kelly Clarkson's first ever Christmas album came just last year. The title track sets the tone for the effortless confidence the survivor singer exudes in the holiday collection.
A Mary Christmas (2013) by Mary J. Blige
After about two decades of releasing albums, Mary J. Blige finally released a holiday album last year. The beautiful collection of songs is injected with a little comedy -- the title, of course, and the inclusion of "Mary, Did You Know."
Christmas Kisses (2013) by Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande put out a new Christmas song in late November, but before "Santa Tell Me" came to fruition Grande had already released a holiday EP entitled Christmas Kisses. The collection of four songs is just as "kewt" as Grande's new Christmas song.
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