BITTERSWEET, Ky. — Each year there seems to be an unending supply of new Christmas music from a variety of artists. In 2016, a number of country artists released new holiday music including the legendary Loretta Lynn, Reba, Garth and Trisha and Amy Grant, to name a few.

This year, again, there are multitudes of new Christmas collections. There may not be as many from our country performers, but it’s an impressive group nonetheless including Gwen Stefani, Jim Brickman, the Christian music group Point of Grace and even Ole Blue Eyes himself – Frank Sinatra. Obviously Frank’s is a collection of previously recorded Sinatra selections, but it’s good to see this album come out to remind us of a time gone by.

So with all this variety, it’s hard to know where to start, but I think the best place would be with Alabama, am I’m not talking about the state.

Super country group Alabama released its first Christmas album in 21 years, and it is well worth the wait. These guys are so good they could sing the newspaper and make it sound good. (I used to say the phonebook but I’m not sure too many people know what that is anymore.)

Anyway, this new collection, called American Christmas, couldn’t have come out at a better time. With so many things going crazy in this country, Alabama brings us back together with a collection of traditional, new and fun Christmas tunes that will make even the scroogious of Scrooges get into the holiday spirit.

From Jingle Bells and Winter Wonder Land, Away in a Manager and Go Tell It on the Mountain, to a revamped Christmas in Dixie, one of my all-time favorites, this album is the perfect country Christmas collection especially for the quintessential Alabama fan. And I can’t forget about some incredible new releases that will be added to my favorite’s list.

This album was released last month, and the group offered this quote on their website, “To all our fans: Christmas is a special time for Alabama. We hope it is for you. From our hearts to you, we give you this Christmas gift. Thank you for the love and support, all these years.”

All I have to say is thank you Alabama for making great music for so many years and what a gift you have given this year.

Bluegrass Johnson comes from a long line of country music performers and enjoys a passion for the rhythm and melody. From the hills of Kentucky, he will offer his opinions on a variety of new country music each week. Readers with questions or comments may write to Johnson in care of this publication.