By Maggie Walsh
The Alabama Baptist
From top artists like Sara Evans and Brad Paisley to legends like Charlie Daniels and Neal McCoy, “Country Faith Christmas” captures glimpses into 37 country artists’ holiday traditions.
For Deborah Evans Price, author of the book and recipient of the 2013 Country Music Association Media Achievement Award, this project is another fulfillment of a God-given calling, she told The Alabama Baptist (TAB).
“I feel like God has put me here to tell other peoples’ stories,” Price said.
Price started off her journalism career with dreams of becoming a hard news reporter, but God kept opening doors to Nashville. And she kept walking through them.
“I can’t remember a time when Jesus wasn’t a part of my life,” Price said, who accepted Christ when she was 12. She and her husband, Gary, are members of Mill Creek Baptist Church, Nashville.
While compiling “Country Faith Christmas,” Price strove for variety.
“I wanted to make it a good mix of the really current chart-topping hits alongside some of the veteran artists [whom] we love.”
The book includes a foreword by Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman, four Advent meditations by Daniels, the Christmas story from Luke 2 and a commentary on a selection of popular carols. Bible verses also are sprinkled throughout “Country Faith Christmas,” which is the holiday follow-up to Price’s “Once-A-Day Country Faith: 56 Reflections From Today’s Leading Country Music Stars.”
More than memories
Along with sharing memories of Christmas and its traditions, artists also included recipes with their reflections.
Martine Bates Sharp, TAB’s book reviewer, said she was especially pleased to see that country artist Brenda Lee was included in the book.
“I don’t follow country music, so I didn’t know the names of all the people included … (but) who hasn’t heard (Lee’s Christmas classic) ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree?’” Sharp said.
“There are no profound truths here, no moments of self-revelation. But what a nice book to browse through at Christmastime.”
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