Do you prefer artificial Christmas trees or real trees? I prefer a real tree but it’s been a good while since my family has gotten one. I always remember making a full day out of going to the farm out by our lake house, picking out a tree, and bringing it home with my Mom and Dad.
When do you decorate your Christmas tree? We’d usually put it up either the weekend of Thanksgiving or the first full weekend of December.
What is your favorite Christmas song? What makes it your favorite?Honkytonk Christmas by Alan Jackson. It’s just always the very first song I listen to when I start the Christmas music for the year. I don’t know exactly why it’s my favorite other than it just has the country sound I love but it’s always been the kickstart of Christmas for me personally.
What is your go-to holiday drink? If I had to pick one, it’s Hot chocolate with a little bit of whipped cream vodka mixed in it. Now the go to of the season for me is the little Christmas Tree shaped cakes that come out every year. I always know my mom has a box of them waiting for me when I get home at Thanksgiving.
What is your favorite Christmas present that you have ever received? I can’t say I have a favorite but one that always stands out was when I was 3 years old. My parents got me a “Shotgun Red” doll from the Ralph Emory Show on TNN. I loved watching him and loved that doll as a kid. My mom still keeps on my bed at home to this day. I guess she still thinks I’m 3 years old haha.
What were your Christmas traditions when you were younger? I remember riding around looking at Christmas lights several times but we’d go to the Arkansas State Capitol when they would light it up and then spend the evening downtown Little Rock just looking at all the lights and the big tree at the Capitol Hotel. On Christmas Eve we’d go to my Aunt Betty and Uncle Charlie’s house where we’d see a bunch of family that we only saw once a year so that was pretty special. Then on Christmas Day all of my family would come back to my house and we all just spent the day together.
How have your Christmas celebrations changed since becoming an adult? I wouldn’t say they have changed so much other than I just seem to have less time at home. Uncle Charlie passed away so we haven’t gotten to do our normal Christmas Eve but we’ve tried to find ways to make new traditions.
How will Christmas be different at your house this year be different this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic? I just think for us it’s a matter of being cautious. I am a late in life kid so my parents are older and part of the “high risk” demographic but considering I don’t get to go home much, I’ll do my best to be there and keep the holidays as close to normal as possible, even if it means trying to keep a little more of a distance.
What is your favorite Christmas memory? I can’t say that there is a specific memory that stands out but I guess what I notice more is how much as you get older you learn to appreciate the day and the time you spend with your family. When you’re a kid it’s all about presents and Santa. Now that I’m an adult it’s just about remembering the day itself is the birth of our Lord and Savior, watching all the little nieces and nephews light up opening their presents, and just enjoying time with my family.
How do you spend the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day? Being from Arkansas, duck hunting is a huge deal back home and since it’s the only time I truly get time off I’m usually in the woods every morning that I can. Other than that, it’s just spending time with my folks before I have to head back out again.
How do you spend New Year’s Eve? Usually playing a show somewhere. It’s turned from being a big night to more of just a normal work night these days.
How will the pandemic impact your celebrations? We will be playing a show with Jon Wolfe in New Braunfels Texas so as long as everything goes as planned, we’ll be playing and trying to have a little bit of normalcy, even if it means a smaller crowd because of capacity restrictions.
What do you typically eat on New Year’s Day? Growing up, mom always made Black eyed peas but considering we are usually traveling back from a NYE show, it’s usually whatever we can find driving back home.
Do you have a New Year’s Resolution for 2021? I can’t say I have a specific one for this year but I just hope to get things back to normal and hopefully do something that brings a smile and some sort of enjoyment to folks. It’s been a tough year and music is a good getaway. If I can help someone just enjoy themselves rather it’s listening to my music or actually being at a live show, I’ll feel like I did something right.