My Gift

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My Gift
File:Carrie Underwood - My Gift.png
Studio album by Carrie Underwood
Released September 25, 2020 (2020-09-25)
Genre Country
Length 41:16
Label Capitol Nashville
Producer Greg Wells
Carrie Underwood chronology
Cry Pretty
(2018)		 My Gift
(2020)
Singles from My Gift

My Gift is the seventh studio album by American singer Carrie Underwood. It was released on September 25, 2020, through Capitol Records Nashville. Produced by Greg Wells, it is her first Christmas album, and features appearances from John Legend and her oldest son Isaiah.

Background

Underwood first announced the album in June 2020.[1] The tracklist was announced on August 27, 2020.[2] Underwood had been wanting to make a full-length Christmas album for a long time, and decided it would be her next musical project after promoting her previous album, Cry Pretty. The album was produced and arranged by Greg Wells.[3]

The album features eight traditional tracks and three originals, two of those co-written by Underwood. On of one the traditional tracks, "The Little Drummer Boy", Underwood was going to record alone but kept thinking about her oldest son Isaiah and asked him if he would want to sing with her on it, which he said "yes." John Legend is featured on "Hallelujah" which he co-wrote with Toby Gad. The two recorded it separately via emails and Zoom.[4] During an interview with Today's Country with Kelleigh Bannen, Underwood stated that the song came in late into the album process and she knew she had to make room for it. It was also her idea to make the song a duet.[5]

In September, Underwood told MusicRow, "I went through like every single song and I went on my iTunes and just started listening to so many versions, and marked down notes to give him [Wells] an idea of what I was looking for. Celine Dion's version of "O Holy Night" is so beautiful and big and classic. That was one I referenced. On the flip side, I didn't think I would find a version I liked of "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee," because so many are so march-y. I was like, "How can we get away from that?" And he had the idea of me singing a cappella. I tried it and it ended up being so unique and it had a certain feeling about it that made me really happy and that's why we put it first on the album."[6]

Promotion

Underwood appeared on the Today Show on September 24, 2020, to promote the album.[7] As cross-promotion for the album, Underwood will star in and executive produce an original HBO Max Christmas special, airing on December 3, 2020.[8][9] In November, Underwood released a bonus track to the album, "Favorite Time of Year", in partnership with Amazon Music.[10]

The official music video for "Hallelujah" was released on November 19.[11] Underwood appeared in a Ring commercial, as cross-promotion for her song "Favorite Time of Year."[12] On November 26, Underwood and Josh Groban were the featured artists for iHeartRadio's Holiday special.[13] Underwood performed "Mary, Did You Know?", "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", and "O Holy Night." On December 3, Underwood performed "O Holy Night" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[14]

Singles

Underwood released the original song "Let There Be Peace" to promote the album on August 28, 2020.

"Hallelujah" was sent to Adult Contemporary radio on November 13, 2020 and it debuted at number 28 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart for the week ending November 20.[15]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic 3/5 stars[17]
The Observer 3.5/5 stars[18]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic called the album a "stately, somber affair" partly due to the production from Greg Wells, writing that the album "proceeds at a steady pace, adorned with very few bells and whistles, and a sparse choice that helps highlight how Underwood chooses to sing primarily religious-themed material."[19] Tom Cramer of The Eastern Echo gave a positive review, writing that it "will bring the listener the gift of contemplation: to contemplate what the true meaning of Christmas is, what’s really necessary to celebrate Christmas during a pandemic, and to contemplate what is going on in the world today", also praising the duet with John Legend, saying it "would be spectacular if they ever get to perform this song together."[20] Emily Simpson of Vinyl Chapters gave a positive review, calling the duet between Underwood and Legend a stand-out track, and writing, "In a decidedly non-traditional year, Carrie Underwood has kept one musical tradition going with this album. My Gift offers us moments of joy and unity, a little dose of Christmas cheer that everyone needs to hear."[21]

Chuck Campbell of Knoxville News Sentinel gave a positive review of the album, awarding it 4 out of 5, calling it "reverential, poignant and heavily religious – calming music suitable for reflection and introspection", but was less favorable toward the duets with John Legend and Underwood's son, calling the former "disjointed and ultimately overcooked" and speculating that the latter will "sound adorable to many, but cloying to others."[22] The Observer gave a positive review of the album, awarding it 3.5 out of 5, but highlighted the promotional single, "Let There Be Peace," calling it "the most soulful" of the album.[18]

Commercial performance

The album sold approximately 43,000 copies in its debut week, tabulated by Billboard.[23] Of that figure, 41,000 were from pure album sales, giving it a debut at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Top Country Albums chart, respectively. The album also debuted at number one on Billboard's Holiday Albums and Top Christian Albums charts, Underwood's first album to do so.[24] The achievement made Underwood the first artist in history to place eight consecutive number one albums on the Top Country Albums chart, according to Billboard.[25]

Track listing

My Gift track listing
No. Title Length
1. "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee"   3:55
2. "O Come, All Ye Faithful"   3:14
3. "Let There Be Peace"   3:59
4. "The Little Drummer Boy" (featuring Isaiah Fisher) 2:56
5. "Sweet Baby Jesus"   4:29
6. "Hallelujah" (featuring John Legend) 4:35
7. "O Holy Night"   4:41
8. "Mary, Did You Know?"   3:26
9. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"   3:49
10. "Away in a Manger"   2:41
11. "Silent Night"   3:31
Total length:
 41:16

Personnel

[26]

Vocals
  • Isaiah Fisher – featured vocals (track 4)
  • Brett James – background vocals
  • John Legend – featured vocals (track 6)
  • Carrie Underwood – lead vocals
  • Nina Woodford – background vocals
Musicians
Production

Charts

Chart performance for My Gift
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[27] 42
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[28] 37
UK Country Albums (OCC)[29] 1
US Billboard 200[30] 8
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[31] 1
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[32] 1
US Top Holiday Albums (Billboard)[33] 1
US Vinyl Albums (Billboard)[34] 25

Release history

Country Date Format Label
Various September 25, 2020
Capitol Nashville
October 30, 2020 Vinyl[35]

References

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  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ https://musicrow.com/2020/09/carrie-underwood-welcomes-the-holiday-season-with-christmas-album-my-gift-interview/
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ https://www.energy941.com/carrie-underwood-sets-christmas-special-for-dec-3/
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ https://1023thebullfm.com/carrie-underwood-rings-your-doorbell-in-christmas-commercial/
  13. ↑ https://www.iheart.com/content/2020-11-26-carrie-underwood-josh-groban-kick-off-holidays-with-christmas-classics/
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ https://www.billboard.com/music/carrie-underwood/chart-history/ASI
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ http://www.easternecho.com/article/2020/10/review-carrie-underwood-creates-a-contemplative-christmas-album-with-my-gift
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  27. ↑ "Carrie Underwood – Chart history" Billboard Canadian Albums Chart for Carrie Underwood. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ "Carrie Underwood – Chart history" Billboard Top Country Albums for Carrie Underwood. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  33. ↑ "Carrie Underwood – Chart history" Billboard Top Holiday Albums for Carrie Underwood. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  34. ↑ "Carrie Underwood – Chart history" Billboard Vinyl Albums for Carrie Underwood. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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