Middle Tennessee has a few holiday traditions locals never miss: Dickens Of A Christmas in Franklin, the dazzling Gaylord Opryland Resort decorations, and the annual Christmas shows by Vince Gill and Amy Grant at Nashville’s iconic Ryman Auditorium.
Married for nearly 25 years, Gill and Grant have mostly pursued separate musical careers—except for their beloved holiday concerts, which sell out almost instantly each season. In 2024, they’ll celebrate their 14th annual “Christmas at the Ryman” residency, marking over 100 festive performances together. Grant shared with PEOPLE, “The shows are a beautiful, easy way to celebrate community, family, faith, and hometown, and we all get to do it together.”
Gill added, “It’s part of their tradition. It feels really good in your heart to see people want to come, and get so much from it.”
This year is extra special: the couple has released their first-ever joint Christmas album, When I Think of Christmas. The album is a love letter to the season that brought them together back in December 1993, when Gill invited Grant to perform on his holiday show. Their friendship blossomed, and they married in 2000.
Grant, known for her early Christmas hits, explained, “Christmas is the one time of year when everybody feels comfortable saying ‘Jesus.’ Faith made it natural to write songs about this… it’s the gift of love.” The album includes two of her classics, “Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song)” and “Tennessee Christmas,” alongside nine previous recordings and two new tracks. The closing track, a duet of “’Til the Season Comes Round Again,” is a fan favorite that usually ends their live shows.
“Christmas music is a portal to wonder, nostalgia, and hope,” Grant said. “I hope these new songs find a place on playlists, during the holiday season or all year ‘round.”
When I Think of Christmas is available digitally, on CD, and on festive green vinyl. A limited-edition red vinyl will be sold exclusively at their Ryman residency and the Official Artist Store.
Gill gushed, “There’s nothing I love more than watching my girl shine, and she shines brightest with Christmas music. I hope everyone enjoys this collection, and hearing Amy shine.”
