SPRINGFIELD — Country music icon Trisha Yearwood is set to spread holiday cheer with her “Christmastime with Trisha Yearwood: 12 Days of Christmas Tour,” making a stop at Springfield Symphony Hall this Saturday. The concert is scheduled for 7 p.m. and promises to be a festive celebration featuring local symphonies, including the Springfield Symphony Orchestra.
Yearwood’s tour kicked off in Nashville and will journey through several major cities such as Newark, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and Detroit, concluding in Louisville, Kentucky. This special tour accompanies her new holiday album, “Christmastime,” produced by Grammy Award winner Don Was and showcasing orchestral arrangements by renowned composer David Campbell.
The album features a delightful mix of classic tracks, including a fresh orchestral rendition of “Christmastime Is Here” from the beloved “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” a soulful take on Elvis Presley’s “Blue Christmas,” and a new version of “Pure Imagination” from “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” One of the album’s standout pieces is “Merry Christmas, Valentine,” an original song co-written with her husband, Garth Brooks.
“Christmastime” marks Yearwood’s first solo holiday album in over a decade, following her successful collaboration with Brooks on “Christmas Together,” which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart in 2016. Yearwood’s previous solo Christmas album, “The Sweetest Gift,” was released in 1994 and earned Gold certification.
Tickets for the Springfield show are priced at $71.29, $81.54, and $103.46 and can be purchased through symphonyhallspringfield.com.
In a recent interview, Yearwood opened up about the motivations behind creating a new Christmas album. She shared that this marks her return to producing a solo holiday record after nearly 30 years, highlighting her passion for the season. She emphasized that recording during the warm months of July posed unique challenges, yet the spirit of Christmas was instilled in the studio with decorations, festive attire, and the music itself.
“I can’t believe it has been almost 10 years since that Christmas album with Garth, and I just thought it was time,” Yearwood explained. “This year wasn’t supposed to be a crazy year, and I thought this would be a great year for me to do a Christmas record and a tour along with it.”
Yearwood’s selection process for the album centered on songs she longed to record, focusing on classics while also aiming to add her unique touch to familiar tunes. The incorporation of a traditional Shaker song, “Simple Guest,” serves as a heartfelt tribute to her late mother, showcasing Yearwood’s depth and connection to her past.
As for the tour, Yearwood expressed her excitement for the intimate experience it provides. “I want it to be intimate,” she said, noting that each performance will feature local orchestras and aim to create a cozy holiday atmosphere. The concert will include both festive and fan-favorite pieces from Yearwood’s repertoire, arranged for orchestral accompaniment.
Balancing her holiday celebrations while on tour presents a new challenge for Yearwood, who plans to maintain a casual family feeling during the festivities. Despite the busy schedule, Yearwood remains enthusiastic about the opportunity to bring joy and music to her fans this Christmas season.
With a mix of nostalgia and innovation, Yearwood’s tour and new album are set to resonate with audiences, reminding everyone of the warmth and joy that the holiday season brings.