Description
Kacey Musgraves – A Very Kacey Christmas – Vinyl Record
Kacey Musgraves – A Very Kacey Christmas (2016) is a warm, quirky, and stylishly retro holiday album that captures the spirit of Christmas with a perfect blend of nostalgia, humor, and heartfelt charm. It’s Musgraves’ first Christmas record and one that fits seamlessly into her broader artistic vision—a vision rooted in classic country aesthetics, progressive values, and a flair for the offbeat. Released between her acclaimed Pageant Material (2015) and the genre-expanding Golden Hour (2018), A Very Kacey Christmas is both a love letter to mid-century Americana and a showcase of Musgraves’ ability to make traditional material feel personal and fresh.
Musically, the album is steeped in vintage sounds, drawing on the aesthetics of 1950s and ’60s Nashville pop, Western swing, and even Hawaiian exotica. Think Brenda Lee meets Patsy Cline, with hints of Bing Crosby’s crooner charm and a dash of campy holiday variety show flair. From the opening track, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” Musgraves sets the tone with dreamy pedal steel, soft strings, and a vocal performance that’s equal parts tender and wistful. Her phrasing is delicate and sincere, never over-singing, letting the emotion come through with subtle restraint.
What makes A Very Kacey Christmas stand out among contemporary holiday albums is its playful personality. Musgraves isn’t afraid to inject humor and sass into the proceedings, as heard on “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas”, where her deadpan delivery and retro arrangement turn the novelty song into a stylish throwback. Likewise, “Ribbons and Bows” and “Present Without a Bow” (featuring Leon Bridges) lean into the Motown-lite vibe, bringing a breezy, romantic soulfulness to the set. Her chemistry with Bridges on the latter is especially charming, and the duet feels like a timeless holiday slow-dance under twinkling lights.
Musgraves also dips into Western swing on tracks like “Mele Kalikimaka” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” featuring collaborations with The Quebe Sisters, a Texas-based trio known for their close harmony fiddle work. These tracks are pure fun, full of twang, rhythm guitar, and honky-tonk cheer, transporting listeners to a Christmas party in a 1950s dance hall. Even the kitschiest moments are handled with such authenticity and affection that they feel endearing, not ironic.
One of the emotional highlights is “Christmas Makes Me Cry,” an original co-written by Musgraves that tempers the album’s joy with a gentle melancholy. It’s a reminder that the holidays can bring sadness and reflection, not just glitter and gifts. With just voice and sparse instrumentation, Musgraves captures that feeling of loneliness and longing with grace—showing her usual sensitivity to the complexity of human emotion.
The album’s original compositions, including the aforementioned “Ribbons and Bows” and “Christmas Makes Me Cry,” prove that Musgraves isn’t just content to interpret the holiday canon—she adds to it in meaningful ways. Her songwriting remains sharp, witty, and emotionally tuned, even within the festive framework. The production, handled by longtime collaborators Shane McAnally, Misa Arriaga, and Kyle Ryan, is lush and analog-inspired, giving the album a cohesive sound that’s warm and inviting without ever veering into schmaltz.
Visually and conceptually, A Very Kacey Christmas embraces vintage holiday kitsch—the cover art, music videos, and stage aesthetics for the accompanying tour all leaned into a Mid-Century Modern meets rhinestone cowgirl vibe. Musgraves tapped into the growing popularity of retro holiday culture while maintaining her unique sense of modern cool. In that sense, the album feels both timeless and perfectly of its moment.
In sum, A Very Kacey Christmas is more than just a seasonal diversion. It’s a fully realized project that shows Kacey Musgraves at her best: genre-aware but never boxed in, emotionally open but never cloying, and always anchored by a strong sense of aesthetic and self. Whether you’re trimming the tree, sipping eggnog, or contemplating the bittersweet side of the holidays, this album delivers joy, humor, and heart in equal measure—with a little rhinestone sparkle on top.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Let It Snow
Christmas Don’t Be Late
A Willie Nice Christmas
Feliz Navidad
Christmas Makes Me Cry
Present Without A Bow
Mele Kalikimaka
I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Ribbons And Bows
What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?
