‘American Idol’ Winner Maddie Poppe’s New Christmas Album Has Fans Ecstatic
Instagram ‘Tis the season for Christmas albums, and Season 16 American Idol winner Maddie Poppe has debuted her contribution to the genre. Her latest EP is called Christmas from Home.
The album features five covers of classic Christmas songs, sung in Maddie’s stripped-down style. Take a closer look at the tracks below, and start adding them to your Christmas playlist.
Maddie Poppe Releases Christmas Album
“I went out to L.A. with one of my friends and it came together very quickly,” Maddie said of the new album in an interview. “I had a pretty good idea right away what I wanted to record.”
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Maddie is also going on a tour of her home state of Iowa this month to promote the release. “It’s just going to be me with my guitar,” she said. “Everything is socially distant, very scaled-back, but it’s what a lot of us need now. People are desperate for entertainment.”
This is Maddie’s second album since winning American Idol in 2018. Last year, she released Whirlwind, featuring songs like “Made You Miss” and “First Aid Kit.”
“I’ll Be Home for Christmas”
Maddie Poppe’s Christmas album kicks off with this classic, originally sung by Bing Crosby. The track showcases Maddie’s voice, backed by acoustic guitar and dreamy strings.
“Sleigh Ride”
Things get more bubbly with the second track, a cover of the song famously performed by the Ronettes. Maddie puts a country-inspired twist on the old standard.
“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”
We’re used to Andy Williams’ spirited version of this song, but Maddie puts a quieter spin on the track. She slows down the vocals, with a simple piano in the background.
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“Jingle Bell Rock”
Once again, Maddie gives us a more subdued version of an upbeat classic. She continues to show off her Idol-winning voice, with a guitar to accompany her.
“O Holy Night”
The album closes with its longest track, which also features Maddie’s strongest vocals. One commenter on YouTube wrote, “Tears streaming down my face!”
Maddie Poppe said in an interview that she and her sister would always make a Christmas album for the family growing up. “It’s kind of funny, but that was where I cut my teeth,” she said. “As I got older, I realized, ‘I think I’m OK at this. I enjoy this.’ That was a turning point for me.”
Click here to listen to Maddie new EP Christmas from Home on your preferred platform.
