Turner slates first Xmas disc

Turner, who has had Christian songs on his albums, will embark on a 16-city "Holiday & The Hits Tour" that winds up at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium.

The record, produced by Kenny Greenberg, will include Christmas classic and four originals, three co-written by Turner. He arranged five of the 11 tracks.

The four original songs include the solo-penned "Mele Kalikimaka My 'Ohana" featuring ukulele ace Jake Shimabukuro and Grammy-nominated Hawaiian trio Ho'okena. Turner also wrote "What He's Given Me" with Pat McLaughlin, as well as the title track "King Size Manger" with Mark Narmore. The album includes the Travis Hill and Tom Douglas track "Soldier's Gift."

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" features Turner's wife Jennifer and his four children, while "Joy To The World" featuring Rhonda Vincent.

"Making a Christmas record can be a mighty daunting task for an artist," said Turner. "There are so many songs to choose from, and there've been so many versions of those songs throughout history. It can be intimidating to know whether you'll be able to measure up to what's already been done and when I get to that point, I step back and remind myself that I have to do what I hear in my heart."

"You may be surprised to hear my arrangement on some of these songs that you know so well. We had a lot of fun throwing out all the preconceived notions of what a Christmas record should sound like. In my opinion, it's about the words and the heart and soul of how a song sounds. You don't need jingle bells on a song to make it a Christmas song."

The track list is:
1. Angels We Have Heard On High
2. What He's Given Me (Featuring Pat McLaughlin)
3. King Size Manger
4. Joy To The World (Featuring Rhonda Vincent)
5. Soldier's Gift
6. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Featuring The Turner Family)
7. Go Tell It On The Mountain
8. Mele Kalikimaka My 'Ohana (Featuring Jake Shimabukuro and Ho'okena)*
9. The First Noel
10. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
11. Silent Night, Holy Night