As the seasons shift from summer to fall, oftentimes, playlists begin to shift towards Christmas music, as well. Many of our favorite country artists have fantastic Christmas releases; mixtures of Christmas classics and originals to set the mood for the season.
Five years ago, Drake Milligan released the instant classic, “Cowgirl For Christmas,” an uber-country, swingin’ song that quickly became a fan favorite; so much so that he gets requests for the song year-round on the road.
For five years, “Cowgirl For Christmas” was the only taste of Christmas music Milligan had to offer. Today, the Texas native has unveiled four additional Christmas tunes to comprise A Drake Milligan Christmas. Along with “Cowgirl For Christmas,” Milligan delivers his take on three Christmas classics, and even adds another fantastic original Christmas song to his repertoire.
We chatted with Milligan all about the EP, his favorite Christmas songs, how he enjoys spending his down time during the holiday season and more!
Pro Country: You released your first Christmas song, “Cowgirl for Christmas,” in 2021. In the five years since, it has earned millions of streams/views, and we’ve seen fans excited to hear the song on the road. How much fun has it been to see the life the song has had, and continues to have, over the last five years?
Drake Milligan: It’s been really cool. I call that song “the gift that keeps on giving,” because every year, when Christmas comes around, it comes back up on TikTok and the music video goes around online. More people find that song every year.
It’s funny; I get requests for that song pretty much the whole year. Before this year, it was the first and only Christmas song I’d ever written, so I felt good about my Christmas songwriting abilities [laughs].
PC: You’ve released your first Christmas EP, A Drake Milligan Christmas, today. How long have you wanted to make a full Christmas project?
DM: I’ve always been a sucker for Christmas music. I’ve always wanted to make a Christmas project and have more Christmas music to put out. It’s going to be cool to have more Christmas songs to live with, and especially to have another original, as well.
It’s fun to approach these songs, because you get a lot of liberties as an artist. You get to do whatever you want, because you don’t have to worry about them sounding like hits. You just get to make music and have fun with it. There’s a freeing aspect to making Christmas music.
PC: A Drake Milligan Christmas includes three traditional country standards, “Silver Bells,” “Sleigh Ride” and “Here Comes Santa Clause.” With so many great Christmas songs to choose from, how hard was it to choose songs for the project, and what was it about the three you chose that drew you to cut them?
DM: “Here Comes Santa Clause” was written by Gene Autry, and made famous by Elvis. That one has always been one of my favorites.
“Sleigh Ride” was our take on a classic, upscale Christmas song. It allowed us to get outside of the country realm a little bit.
I’m excited for people to hear “Silver Bells.” I think it’s a take on the song that hasn’t really been done before. It’s really rockin’ and fun.
PC: “It Ain’t Really Christmas” is a newly-released original Christmas song with the EP. Can you take us in the room and talk about how the song came together?
DM: That was an idea I brought into “Moose” Brown, who produced the project. We sat down in his studio one day, and I had an idea for a lonesome, sweet Christmas song, if you will, that was really traditional country. It was a really easy-going, fun write. It’s nice to have a different kind of Christmas song. Not every moment of Christmas is jolly [laughs].
PC: Oftentimes, Christmas songs are written and recorded far from Christmas time. When was A Drake Milligan Christmas recorded, and what was it like getting into the Christmas spirit at that time?
DM: We cut it at the end of August or early September, so it was really hot out [laughs]. I think we wrote “It Ain’t Really Christmas” in July. It was a nice little Christmas in July!
What was really fun about the project is that I got to bring in my road band to record it. We haven’t really done that before, so it was really fun to have them.
PC: You mentioned recording the project with Jim “Moose” Brown. Every artist we’ve interviewed that has worked with “Moose” has nothing but amazing things to say about the experience. What was it like working with someone as respect as “Moose” on the project?
DM: It was amazing. He’s the coolest, nicest guy ever. He’s brilliant. It was cool seeing him interact with my band. We all respect him so much as a musician, so we all really value his opinions. It makes for a fun day in the studio. I love working with him!
PC: In the spirit of great original country Christmas songs like “It Ain’t Really Christmas,” there have been so many great originals by country greats through the years. Can you tell us a few of your favorite country Christmas songs?
DM: Merle Haggard had some great ones! I always think about “If We Make It Through December.” Alan Jackson had some great Christmas songs, and Brooks & Dunn had some fun ones! I love all of the 90s country Christmas stuff. I’ve always loved George Strait’s take on “Christmas Cookies.”
PC: What do you love to do around Christmas time?
DM: I love going back home to Texas. That’s usually when we’re off the road. I love being outdoors and hunting. A lot of my Christmas time is revolved around getting outside, in the woods, and having some nice quiet time.
PC: You’re winding down the “Tumbleweed World Tour” in the next few months, with a good handful of domestic dates before heading back overseas to finish this year’s schedule. With so many dates played, how do you look back on the tour, the travel, and being able to add so many songs from the Tumbleweed album into the set?
DM: It’s been really fun. I wrote Tumbleweed to fill in some spaces in the live show. We’ve found new versions of the songs on the road, including some of the older songs, just through playing all of these shows. It’s been cool to play so many shows overseas and to see them keep getting bigger. It’s been a fun year of gradual growth.
PC: With A Drake Milligan Christmas now released, what do you have planned for the rest of 2026 and going into 2027?
DM: We’ve got some big UK dates in November that we’re really excited about! I’m also hoping to get back in the studio to cut some more non-Christmas music pretty soon [laughs]. I’ve got so many songs stacked up that I’m dying to release. Hopefully we’ll get that recorded soon, and in the meantime, we’re gonna keep on playing shows!
PC: Is there anything you’d like to add?
DM: We’re working on a Christmas movie! That will be out next year. The movie is done, and a lot of these songs will be involved in the movie!
*Stream A Drake Milligan Christmas*
*Feature image by Eric Ryan Anderson*
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