Bluegrass & White Snow: A Mountain Christmas (Columbia, 2002)

Patty Loveless' Christmas disc is a delightful album - a wonderful blend of acoustic instruments and sweet harmonies. "Joy to the World" is just one of the standout performances. The song opens with deep bell tones, and then Loveless and Jon Randall start singing in two-part harmony. It's just them singing when a Dobro gently joins the mix, and near the end, a guitar chimes in.

Just when it can't get any better, Emmylou Harris shows up to grace the closing moments of the song with her sweet voice. "Santa Train" celebrates an Appalachian tradition - a train that travels from Pikeville, Ky., to Kingsport, Tenn., giving out as much as 15 tons of gifts to the children who gather. You don't often hear a female performance of "Little Drummer Boy," but Loveless' version, a duet with Rebecca Lynn Howard, is a harmony-and-whistle-filled delight.

You might also recognize Vince Gill, Trisha Yearwood and Dolly Parton on various songs, but it's Loveless' voice and artistry that will have you listening to this timeless album Christmas after Christmas.