The Paris, IL, native was visiting Nashville for the first time early in his sophomore year at Chicago's Elmhurst College. He was at the Station Inn, an historic bluegrass/country venue where many of the greats of both worlds have played. His cousin Terry, a veteran of Dolly Parton's band and now a member of the Grascals, was playing with a band called the Sidemen, and a mesmerized Brett was in the crowd.
"There was something so real and truthful about the songs they were playing," he says. βWhat happened next came as a shock.β
"He asked me to come up on stage and told me to pick a song to play with the band," says Brett. I said, 'Amarillo By Morning,' and when I heard that fiddle intro, chills shot up my spine. I sang it for the crowd there and it was a magical experience. That was the point where I thought, 'This is it. This is something I've got to do.'"
By the start of the next school year, he had transferred to Middle Tennessee State University and begun the round of writers' nights and writing appointments that led him eventually to a record deal.
The talent that let him turn that dream into realityβthe depth of his writing and the sheer power of his smoky and expressive baritoneβare both apparent in his first single. "Raymond" is the poignant tale of a nursing home employee mistaken by a patient with Alzheimer's for her deceased son, who was killed at war. It is a song whose inspiring reaffirmation of their mutual humanity is affecting listeners deeply. The single rings true for Eldredge as his Grandmother currently struggles through the disease.
"There are a lot of things I'll play live where people will say, 'I like that,' or 'That's a really cool song,'" Brett says, "but when I do this one, I get the chance to tell people how special a thing it's been in my life, and it always touches someone. A lot of people know someone with Alzheimer's and people react in a really emotional way to it."
Brett has earned a reputation as much for the strength of his writing as for his world-class voice. He and co-writer Pat McLaughlin landed a song called "I Think I've Had Enough" on Gary Allan's latest album, Get Off On The Pain, and one of his frequent collaborators is Country Music Hall of Famer and Grand Ole Opry stalwart Bill Anderson.
"He's one of my favorite people to write with," says Brett. "I love the fact that he believes in country music so much, because it's something I really believe in. My dream, as I find my place in country music, is one day to be an Opry member."
Brett heard all kinds of music growing up, and became a particular fan of the classic pop singers he heard in his grandfather's car.
"I heard a lot of Frank Sinatra, who is still a favorite of mine, and Ray Charles and Bobby Darin," he says. "When my mother convinced me to sing 'Mack The Knife' at a talent show, I got hooked on singing in public."
That was in Paris, a town of 9,000 with "cornfields and factories and lake right in the middle." Brett, his older brother and his parentsβa traveling grain salesman and a nurseβlived on the lake and, says Brett, "We were on the water every day, from the time I was so little they could pull me on water skis in a paddle boat until I left for college at 18." Sports were a big part of his life, and he played basketball, baseball and football in high school.
He also sang everywhere he could, often the Big Band music of Sinatra, earning spending money and learning to work a stage. His appreciation for country music became a passion when he turned 16 and he and a friend rode around listening to a Brooks & Dunn greatest hits album.
"There was something about it that just struck me," he says. "I couldn't get enough of it. Ronnie Dunn is one of my favorite singers of all timeβI love the soul in his voiceβand one of the main reasons I got into this in the first place."
Brett spent two years in Chicago, where his older brother lived, performing with a school jazz band and with a Big Band around the region.
"One of the coolest gigs," he says, "was at the Field Museum, I was singing in front of a 12-piece band under this huge Tyrannosaurus Rex statue near some mammoths. It was quite the experience."
Then came that fateful visit to Nashville and his transfer to MTSU. He studied classic country stylists like Ray Price and George Jones, and later Vince Gill, absorbing everything he could.
"I was driving back and forth Nashville every day from Murfreesboro, which is thirty miles away," he says. "I had a guitar Terry had given me, which was originally a gift from Dolly, and I'd pretty much lock myself in my room and make myself learn songs. I would play writers' nights all around Nashville. There might be two people, there might be 40 or 50. I'd go play my songs and see what people liked and what they didn't. I'd screw up royally in front of them, but I learned."
He earned a degree, which, he says, "made Mom and Dad happy, and then I moved on to what I really wanted to do.
A staff writer for hit producer/publisher Byron Gallimore heard him at a writers' night and introduced him to Byron, who signed him.
"I wrote for about two years, developing my craft and writing with everyone I could. In the beginning, Byron just let me kind of find myself, because that takes a while. As you write more you starting homing in on what you sound good on. Eventually, Byron said, 'You've got something here' and we went in and started cutting songs. We did a showcase, and Carole Ann Mobley from Warner Music Nashville said, 'We've gotta sign this kid'. Mobley and Craig Kallman then signed Brett to Atlantic Records, making him the first official signing for the new imprint.
As he worked with his band tightening his show, he was offered a particularly gratifying gig.
"I opened for Blake Shelton at The Ryman and it was the coolest experience. I flew back from this house gig and all of a sudden I'm thrown into playing the Mother Church of Country Music, something I always dreamed of doing. I was operating on almost no sleep, but stepping out on that stage where everybody who's anybody in country music has been meant the world to me."
He remains active in sports, playing basketball and volleyball and playing on an intramural softball team in Nashville, and rooting for the Cubs and Bears. Meanwhile, he is dedicated to improving his craft.
"As a songwriter," he says, "my aim is to portray a little bit of me and my life along with the stories of other people and turn them into something that can really touch somebody's heart and soul. We sit down on Music Row every day and write songs and every once in a while a song like βRaymondβ comes from such a real place. I hope it's that real to other people and that I can make them feel the way I felt when I wrote it and when I sing it."
Judging from audience reaction, thatβs exactly what heβs doing.
Feels Like Christmas
Brett Eldredge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Evergreen candle and cinnamon spice
You need the mantel glowing in the fire
Said hallelujah, feels like Christmas
Can't believe I get to witness this
Red velvet sport coat, gentleman jack on the rocks
You kick off your high heels, I living room dance in my socks
I said hallelujah, feels like Christmas
Waiting all year long
Hey, hey, hey Santa's on his way
Ho, ho, ho where's the mistletoe?
'Cause the only thing missin' is you and me kissin'
To cross right off my list
I said hallelujah, feels like Christmas
You can't tell me that Christmas gets better than this
(No, you cant)
Caught up in the spirit if you couldn't tell
The moment that I saw you I heard Carol of the Bells
The angles were singing as the snow gently fell
I said hallelujah, feels like Christmas
Benn waiting my life long
Hey, hey, hey Santa's on his way
Ho, ho, ho where's the mistletoe?
'Cause the only thing missin' is you and me kissin'
To cross right off my list
I said hallelujah, feels like Christmas
You can't tell me that Christmas gets better than this
(Alright, woo)
(Whoa)
(Come on)
And any other time of year you're one in a million dear
But tonight you got a heavenly kind of glow
Hey, hey, hey Santa's on his way
Ho, ho, ho where's the mistletoe?
'Cause the only thing missin' is you and me kissin'
To cross right off my list
I said hallelujah, feels like Christmas
You can't tell me that Christmas gets better than this
(Hallelujah, feels like Christmas) no, you cant
Oh, it feels like Christmas (hallelujah, feels like Christmas)
Oh yeah, oh, whoa (hallelujah, feels like Christmas)
Oh, it feels like Christmas (hallelujah, feels like Christmas)
Mm
The lyrics to Brett Eldredge's "Feels Like Christmas" paint a vivid picture of the joy and excitement of the holiday season. The first verse sets the scene with banisters adorned with holly and lights, the aroma of cinnamon spice filling the air, and the comforting glow of a fire on the mantel. The singer expresses their elation, exclaiming "hallelujah, feels like Christmas" and expressing gratitude for being able to witness such a magical moment.
The second verse captures a cozy and intimate Christmas celebration. The singer mentions a red velvet sport coat and a glass of Gentleman Jack on the rocks, creating a luxurious and indulgent atmosphere. They describe a playful and spontaneous moment, where both partners kick off their shoes and dance in the living room. The music of Bing Crosby playing in the background fills the room with nostalgia and joy, leaving the singer enamored and their heart filled with happiness.
The chorus emphasizes the anticipation and longing for love and connection during the holiday season. The mention of Santa's arrival and the search for mistletoe highlights the desire for a romantic encounter. The singer expresses that the only thing missing from their Christmas experience is a kiss with their loved one. They reiterate their joy and excitement by exclaiming "hallelujah, feels like Christmas," suggesting that the presence of love is what truly makes the season special and complete.
In the third verse, the singer becomes enamored with their romantic interest, seeing them as someone truly special. The mention of "Carol of the Bells" signifies a transcendent moment, as if the universe is aligning to celebrate their love. The lyric "the angels were singing as the snow gently fell" adds a touch of enchantment and reinforces the idea that this love is divinely orchestrated. The singer expresses their ultimate joy and fulfillment, once again exclaiming "hallelujah, feels like Christmas" and noting that they have been waiting for this moment their whole life.
The final verse describes the loved one as "one in a million" and acknowledges their heavenly glow. The mention of any other time of year suggests that while the loved one is always incredible, during Christmas they have an extra special aura about them. The chorus is repeated, emphasizing that the presence and love of the partner cannot be surpassed during the Christmas season, solidifying the idea that Christmas truly feels magical in their presence.
Overall, "Feels Like Christmas" captures the essence of love, joy, and anticipation that comes with the holiday season. It celebrates the warmth and intimacy of a romantic connection during this magical time and suggests that the love and presence of a special someone can make Christmas even more extraordinary.
Line by Line Meaning
Banisters wrapped in holly and lights
The festive decorations adorning the banisters with holly and twinkling lights
Evergreen candle and cinnamon spice
The scent of a comforting evergreen candle and the warmth of cinnamon spice in the air
You need the mantel glowing in the fire
The importance of the mantel being illuminated by a crackling fire
Said hallelujah, feels like Christmas
Expressing the joy and excitement that signifies the start of the Christmas season
Can't believe I get to witness this
Feeling grateful for being able to experience such a magical moment
Red velvet sport coat, gentleman jack on the rocks
Wearing a luxurious red velvet sport coat and enjoying a drink of Gentleman Jack on the rocks
You kick off your high heels, I living room dance in my socks
Casually removing your high heels and dancing together in the living room, even in mismatched socks
With Bing on the speakers, you smile and my heart drops
Playing Bing Crosby's music in the background, witnessing your beautiful smile that makes my heart skip a beat
Waiting all year long
Anticipating and patiently waiting for this special moment throughout the whole year
Hey, hey, hey Santa's on his way
Excitement fills the air as Santa Claus is en route to bring joy and gifts
Ho, ho, ho where's the mistletoe?
Expressing the desire for a special moment under the mistletoe with a loved one
'Cause the only thing missin' is you and me kissin'
Realizing that the only missing element is sharing a kiss with you
To cross right off my list
The act of fulfilling a desire or achieving a goal, in this case, sharing a kiss
Caught up in the spirit if you couldn't tell
Fully immersed and captivated by the joyful and festive atmosphere
The moment that I saw you I heard Carol of the Bells
Experiencing a magical moment as the sound of Carol of the Bells played upon seeing you
The angels were singing as the snow gently fell
Feeling as if angels were serenading amidst the peaceful falling snow
Benn waiting my life long
Expressing the longing and anticipation of waiting for this moment throughout one's entire life
And any other time of year you're one in a million dear
Acknowledging that you are always special and unique, regardless of the season
But tonight you got a heavenly kind of glow
Noticing an ethereal and radiant beauty about you on this specific night
Mm
(Musical interlude)
Oh, it feels like Christmas (hallelujah, feels like Christmas)
Embracing the overwhelming sensation and excitement that Christmas brings
Oh yeah, oh, whoa (hallelujah, feels like Christmas)
Expressing a sense of delight and awe at the festive atmosphere
Oh, it feels like Christmas (hallelujah, feels like Christmas)
Savoring the magical and joyful ambiance that only Christmas can bring
Lyrics Β© Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Brett Ryan Eldredge
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-zf2pq4dn2d
β€β€β€ Itβs not Christmas time without Brettβs amazing and heartfelt Holiday music!!!! Love it! πππβ₯οΈπ₯°
@annaromano9074
This might be one of my new favorites β€
@nancyjanssen6785
This song sure keeps ringing in your ears !!! Love it !!!
@anagacosta6916
What a wonderful voice!!! βππΆπ
@mauri7334
Love this! Yes your voice is perfect for the holidays! Just ordered my Signed Vinyl!
@mlterminator3233
Brett is magical. The most beautiful voice he lifts you. GOD blessed him with a beautiful voice. I never get tired of listening to him. It always feels like the first. Love him
@silviak.8234
Gorgeous, I have heard it first time today, but it will be my favourite christmas song.
@chad1807
His voice was made for music like this
@vikkihorchar280
100%
@jennyjusino1249
With his country voice, love his music. Brett is Mr. Christmas.π²π²π²π π π