Josh Turner Readies Christmas Album and Tour

Christmas is coming early this year for country music fans as Josh Turner plans to drop King Size Manger, his first-ever Christmas album, on October 8.

Turner’s 11-track project includes new versions of classic holiday songs, as well as four originals in which Turner wrote or co-wrote three of. Original songs “Mele Kalikimaka My ‘Ohana,” which features well-known ukulele expert Jake Shimabukuro and Hawaiian group Ho’okena,“What He’s Given Me,” recorded with Pat McLaughlin and title track “King Size Manger” featuring Mark Narmore will be included on the holiday album.

Listeners can look forward to hearing beloved tracks “Soldier’s Gift” and “Joy To The World,” the latter which was recorded with bluegrass legend Rhonda Vincent. Turner’s wife and four boys will also be joining the singer for his special project with a feature on the classic “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

“Making a Christmas record can be a mighty daunting task for an artist,” shared Turner. “There are so many songs to choose from and there’ve been so many versions of those songs throughout history. It can be intimidating to know whether you’ll be able to measure up to what’s already been done and when I get to that point, I step back and remind myself that I have to do what I hear in my heart. You may be surprised to hear my arrangement on some of these songs that you know so well.  We had a lot of fun throwing out all the preconceived notions of what a Christmas record should sound like. In my opinion, it’s about the words and the heart and soul of how a song sounds. You don’t need jingle bells on a song to make it a Christmas song.”

To celebrate the release of the project, the “Long Black Train” singer is launching a 16-city Holiday & The Hits Tour with its last stop at the iconic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.

King Size Manger Track Listing:
1.  Angels We Have Heard On High
2.  What He’s Given Me (Featuring Pat McLaughlin)*
3.  King Size Manger*
4.  Joy To The World (Featuring Rhonda Vincent)
5.  Soldier’s Gift*
6.  Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Featuring The Turner Family)
7.  Go Tell It On The Mountain
8.  Mele Kalikimaka My ‘Ohana (Featuring Jake Shimabukuro and Ho’okena)*
9.  The First Nowell
10. Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town
11. Silent Night, Holy Night
Produced by Kenny Greenberg
*denotes original

Holiday & The Hits Tour Schedule:
11/18   Holland, MI – Holland Civic Center
11/19   Springfield, IL – University of Illinois PAC
11/20   Joliet, IL – Rialto Square Theatre
11/21   Rockford, IL – Coronado PAC
11/26   Panama City Beach, FL – Aaron Bessant Park
11/27   Memphis, TN – Soundstage at Graceland
11/28   Meridian, MS – MSU Riley Center
12/2     Prescott, AZ – Yavapai College PAC
12/3     Maricopa, AZ – Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino
12/4     Las Vegas, NV – The Venetian Theatre
12/10   Riverside, IA – Riverside Casino
12/11   Prior Lake, MN – Mystic Lake Casino Hotel
12/16   Midland, MI – Midland Center For The Arts
12/17   Wisconsin Dells, WI – Crystal Grand Music Theatre
12/19   Royal Oak, MI – Royal Oak Music Theatre
12/20   Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium