The trio originally formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2006 by Charles Kelley (lead and background vocals), Dave Haywood (background vocals, guitar, piano, mandolin) and Hillary Scott (lead and background vocals).
Scott is the daughter of country music singer Linda Davis, and Charles Kelley is the brother of pop artist Josh Kelley. It was these family connections and music industry ties that helped launch the band. Kelley moved to Nashville in mid-2005 from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he had been working construction with his brother John. Trying to become a successful solo country artist, Kelley convinced his old middle-school classmate, Haywood, to move to Nashville from Georgia in 2006 so they could write music together. Shortly thereafter, Scott recognized Kelley from MySpace, and they started to talk at a Nashville music club. Kelley later invited Scott to join him and Haywood in the new group, which assumed the name Lady Antebellum. The name Antebellum comes from when the group were photographing "antebellum" homes. The antebellum ('pre-war') architectural style describes the large plantation homes in the American South. While photographing the houses one of the group said that there's a great band name in there, and they adopted the Lady Antebellum name shortly after. The trio then began performing at local venues in Nashville before being signed in July 2007 to a recording contract with Capitol Records Nashville. In an interview with Sirius Satellite Radio, Scott claimed she was rejected from the hit show American Idol two times, not even making it past the first round.
Shortly after the trio signed to the label, adult contemporary artist Jim Brickman chose Lady Antebellum to sing on his 2007 single Never Alone, which reached #14 on the Billboard adult contemporary charts. In mid-2007, Lady Antebellum also wrote a song for the MTV reality television series The Hills.
Their solo debut single Love Don't Live Here was released in September of 2007, with a music video for the song following in December. This song was the lead-off single to the band's self-titled debut album. Released on April 15, 2008, Lady Antebellum was produced by Paul Worley and Victoria Shaw, a Nashville songwriter and former solo artist. Love Don't Live Here reached #3 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. The album itself was the first album by a new duo or group to debut at Number One on the Billboard Top Country Albums charts.
A second single, Lookin' for a Good Time, was issued in June 2008 and peaked at #11 in December. In addition, Lady Antebellum was signed as an opening act on Martina McBride's "Waking Up Laughing Tour" in 2008. Lady Antebellum also contributed the song I Was Here to the AT&T Team USA Soundtrack, a song which peaked at #24 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 based on downloads. In December 2008, their rendition of Baby, It's Cold Outside peaked at #3 on the same chart. Their third official single, I Run to You, was released in January 2009. It eventually became the trio's first Number One in July 2009.
On October 7, 2009 their debut album was certified platinum by the RIAA for shipments of one million copies in the United States.
In August 2009, the group released their fourth single, Need You Now, the lead-off single and title track to their second studio album. It debuted at #50 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and became their second Number One hit on the charts for the week of November 28, 2009. The song also reached a peak of #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was a number-one hit on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart, making it a crossover hit. A second single, American Honey, was released to radio on January 11, 2010 and would become their third #1 hit. Our Kind of Love was released as the third single from the album on May 31, 2010 and became a #1 single in September, 2010.
The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums charts for the week of Feb. 2, 2010, selling 480,922 copies in the first week. Four weeks after the album's release, it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
The week of January 9, 2011, the group ventured into the studio to begin recording for their third studio album. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Kelley said, "We actually just went ahead and decided we’re gonna take two, two and a half months straight in the studio to create this thing and not have all this distraction. Hopefully that will be a good thing". He goes on to say that the group has around 50 songs which they plan to choose from along with songs from other songwriters. However, he singles out a song called Dancing Away With My Heart as one the band is particularly excited about, a song that the group co-wrote with Josh Kear, who previously wrote with the group on their hit Need You Now.
On May 2, 2011, the group released the first single from their upcoming album, titled Just a Kiss. The group performed the single on stage on American Idol's result show on May 5, 2011.
On June 11, 2020, amid the George Floyd protests, the band announced they would rename themselves "Lady A" in order to avoid racist connotations with Civil War history, as the original name was based on the Antebellum South. The band stated on social media that they were "deeply sorry for the hurt this has caused and for anyone who has felt unsafe, unseen or unvalued."
All I Want For Christmas Is You
Lady Antebellum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's just one thing I need
I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you
Baby, you
I don't need to hang my stocking
There upon the fireplace
Santa Claus won't make me happy
With a toy on Christmas day
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you
Baby
All the lights are shining
So brightly everywhere (Brightly everywhere)
And the sound of children's
Laughter fills the air
And everyone is singing
I hear those sleigh bells ringing
Santa won't you bring me the one I really need
Oh bring my baby to me
I don't want a lot for Christmas
This is all I'm asking for
I just want to see my baby
Standing right outside my door
I just want him for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you
Baby, you
Baby, you
Baby, you
The song "All I Want For Christmas Is You" by Lady Antebellum captures the essence of the holiday season by emphasizing the importance of being with the people you love. The song starts by emphasizing that the singer does not want any materialistic gifts, but rather just one person. The singer is so focused on this individual that they are the only thing they want in their life. The lyrics make it clear that the love of this individual is more important than anything else in the world. The song goes on to talk about how the Christmas lights are everywhere, and the sound of children’s laughter fills the air. These elements serve as reminders that Christmas is a time of joy, hope, and love.
The song also emphasizes the idea that true happiness comes from being around the people you love. The singer is not interested in receiving gifts or material possessions. Instead, they just want to be with their significant other. The song is clear that this individual is more important to the singer than anything else in the world. The song also touches upon the idea that Christmas can be a lonely time for some people. While others are surrounded by family and friends, some individuals may be alone during the holiday season. The song serves as a reminder to those individuals that they are not alone and that the love of those around them can help to fill the void during this time of year.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want a lot for Christmas
I don't need many material gifts this Christmas
There's just one thing I need
There's just one important thing that matters to me this Christmas
I don't care about the presents
I don't care about the materialistic things wrapped in gift boxes
Underneath the Christmas tree
Which are kept under the Christmas tree
I just want you for my own
I just want to have you in my arms for myself
More than you could ever know
You are more valuable to me than what you can possibly understand
Make my wish come true
I hope that my dream comes true
All I want for Christmas is you
All I desire for Christmas is your presence
Baby, you
I want you so much
I don't need to hang my stocking
I don't want to spend the holiday season in a customary way
There upon the fireplace
By hanging stocking socks on the fireplace shelf
Santa Claus won't make me happy
Even Santa Claus cannot satisfy me with his presents
With a toy on Christmas day
By giving me a toy on Christmas day
All the lights are shining
The holiday season brings bright illumination everywhere
So brightly everywhere (Brightly everywhere)
The lights are illuminating brightly everywhere
And the sound of children's
The sweet and innocent sound of children
Laughter fills the air
The ambiance is filled with the happiness of children's laughter
And everyone is singing
Everyone is singing merry Christmas carols
I hear those sleigh bells ringing
I can hear the sounds of the sleigh bells ringing
Santa won't you bring me the one I really need
I am requesting Santa to bring me the one person who I really need
Oh bring my baby to me
Santa, please bring my beloved to me
This is all I'm asking for
All I want is just this one thing
I just want to see my baby
I just want to see my beloved
Standing right outside my door
Waiting at the doorway to meet me
Baby, you
All I want is just you
Baby, you
All I desire is only you
Baby, you
My heart's only desire is just you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Mariah Carey, Walter N. Afanasieff
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Peter Lacey
Absolutely love this version. And love listening to your music 🥰
Jerry Crowder
Lost my wife 2 yrs.ago,she's all i will
Ever want for christmas!! This song really touches my heart!!
Brooklyn Blake
This is the best version of this song I love it sooo much!!!
Melissa Wade
@The Emancipation of Hoosiers that’s just what I think. I’m sorry I didn’t make that clear.
The Emancipation of Hoosiers
@Melissa Wade In your dreams please
Melissa Wade
I agree! Better than the original!
1CONIC S4MMY
I love this version so much! It makes me calm and VERY excited for Christmas!
robin odeneal
LadyA never disappoints. Great job 👍
brandon jodrey
I love this version
Peggy Wagner
Agree, I love this arrangement!