Christmas in My Heart (Redneck, 2013)

Although Gretchen Wilson produced this new holiday album for Redneck Records, thank goodness our famous redneck woman didn't attempt a redneck Christmas album. The closest she gets to being redneck-y is by appearing as a shotgun-wielding gal tied up in Christmas lights inside the CD booklet. Oh, and If You See Rudolph is a bit of a hunting song, which true rednecks will appreciate.

While Wilson produced the 10-track release, she did not write any of its songs. On the secular/sacred scale, the song selection for this release leans significantly to the secular side of the fence, with only Silent Night paying tribute to the Baby Jesus. There are a couple of kids songs, with Nuttin' For Christmas and I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas, and a few holiday comfort food songs, including Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas and The Christmas Song.

Without her Redneck Woman image, Wilson is just an average singer, at best. "Christmas in My Heart" has some fun and sweet moments, but hardly adds anything essential to the holiday music canon. If you love Wilson music, this is not a bad CD. However, if you're looking for new and necessary Christmas music this year, you'd do well to pass this one over.