With Greatest Hits Christmas, LeAnn Rimes revisits one of the most enduring threads of her career: the quiet, emotional pull of the holiday season. Arrived on November 7 via Curb Records, the album gathers three decades of festive recordings into a single, reflective body of work, blending nostalgia, renewal, and new perspective.
Rather than presenting Christmas as a static tradition, Greatest Hits Christmas reads as a personal timeline. From early career milestones like the 1997 single “Put a Little Holiday in Your Heart” to later, more introspective performances drawn from It’s Christmas, Eve, the collection traces how Rimes’ relationship with the season has evolved alongside her life and artistry. The album moves fluidly between joy and stillness, capturing both the brightness of celebration and the quieter emotional undercurrents that surface as time passes.
The project also introduces three new original songs, positioned not as departures but as natural extensions of Rimes’ long-standing holiday voice. These sit comfortably alongside reimagined classics, including a newly released digital mix of “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” and a stark, emotionally resonant interpretation of Joni Mitchell’s “The River.” Across the tracklist, Rimes’ performances feel measured and lived-in, shaped by experience rather than spectacle.
Collaboration plays a central role in shaping the album’s tone. Actor and singer Luke Evans appears on “There’s No Such Thing,” a theatrical and playful moment that nods toward Rimes’ forthcoming musical project 32 Hooves. Elsewhere, Aloe Blacc joins her on “That Spirit of Christmas,” bringing warmth and soul to the arrangement, while Gavin DeGraw features on a restrained, reflective take of “Celebrate Me Home.” These partnerships feel carefully chosen, adding texture without disrupting the album’s sense of continuity.
Co-executive produced by Rimes alongside longtime collaborator Darrell Brown, Greatest Hits Christmas balances polish with intimacy. The sequencing allows the record to unfold like a conversation between past and present, one that acknowledges childhood wonder while embracing the deeper questions that come with adulthood. Rimes herself describes the collection as a gathering of “big and small moments,” a sentiment reflected in the album’s emotional range.
The release arrives ahead of Rimes’ Greatest Hits Christmas Tour, which launches in early December and extends the album’s themes into a live setting. It also follows a period of renewed visibility for the artist, including recent Grammy recognition and high-profile collaborations across genres, reinforcing her position as a voice that continues to adapt without losing its core identity.
Within the broader holiday music landscape, Greatest Hits Christmas stands out not for reinvention, but for perspective. It offers a portrait of an artist revisiting familiar songs with new understanding, allowing tradition and growth to coexist. In doing so, LeAnn Rimes reaffirms her long-held place in seasonal music — not as a symbol frozen in time, but as a living, evolving presence.
