Fantasia will spread holiday cheer this season. The singer has announced her plans to release her first-ever holiday album, Christmas After Midnight.
Due on October 6, the album features some of Fantasia’s holiday favorites including “This Christmas,” “Silent Night,” “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and “Baby It’s Cold Outside” with guest vocals from CeeLo Green.
Fantasia says the album was inspired by her grandmother. “I’m so excited for my first Christmas album. My grandmother Addie Collins’ birthday was on Christmas Day,” she said in a statement.
She continued, “She was a loving woman who helped all her grandchildren understand the true meaning of the holiday, its impact on our spirituality and character as well as the importance of recognizing the value of family and significant relationships. This album is dedicated to her.”
Fantasia will release the album independently. She reportedly has parted ways from her label RCA Records. Although a formal announcement hasn’t been made, Fantasia’s name no longer appears on the label’s roster on its website.
Last summer, Fantasia released her fifth album, The Definition Of. In an interview with Rated R&B, she talked about her fight for creative freedom.
“[Ron Fair and I] wanted the album to represent the definition of music — the definition of the strength of a fighter,” she said. “He and I both fought for this record. We don’t have timeless records like we did back then. You can still put in a Luther Vandross CD or Anita Baker or Elton John or Queen or Stevie Wonder, and those were timeless records. It seems like they were just recorded yesterday. That’s what we wanted.”
Fantasia’s Christmas After Midnight Track List
1. This Christmas
2. Santa Claus Goes Straight To The Ghetto
3. The Snow Is Falling
4. Baby, It’s Cold Outside (feat. Cee-Lo Green)
5. Jingle Bell Rock
6. The Christmas Song
7. What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?
8. Merry Christmas, Baby
9. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
10. Silent Night
11. In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning
12. Hallelujah
Fans can pre-order Christmas After Midnight here.