Carrie Underwood on Christmas traditions and her upcoming holiday feature
Carrie Underwood is counting her blessings this holiday season.
The seven-time Grammy Award-winning singer says she "wouldn't know where to begin" when it comes to what she's most thankful for.
"This has been such a challenging year for so many people in so many ways and I'm just grateful that our family is healthy and happy," Underwood shared in an interview with "Good Morning America."
Underwood said she has always been a fan of the Christmas season, but being a parent to her two sons, 5-year-old Isaiah and 1-year-old Jacob, with her husband, Mike Fisher, has changed things.
"It's certainly more special when you have kids and get to experience everything through their eyes," she said.
"Our family is in Oklahoma and Canada, but like everyone, we aren't sure what this year will bring in terms of being able to travel," she continued. "But at least the four of us will be together and that's what matters most."
Underwood said she and her family have a few traditions they stick to every year. "We always go to church, that's an important part of our lives year-round and I feel it's especially important to remember the reason we celebrate the holidays in the first place," she said. "We love decorating the house as a family -- the boys have their own tree they get to put anything they want on it."
The crew also enjoys "lots of good food and music," which is one of the reasons the singer is bringing the gift of music to her fans this December.
Underwood will star in an upcoming holiday feature, "Cracker Barrel Sounds of the Season," in which she will perform songs from her first Christmas album, "My Gift," which she released this September.
The feature will premiere on Cracker Barrel's YouTube and Facebook pages on Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT.
Artists Maddie & Tae and Runaway June, who both joined Underwood on her Cry Pretty Tour 360 in 2019, will also perform during the special with Underwood.
Underwood said seeing those women again was a "really fun reunion."
"I love all of those girls so much … they are all so talented and deserving of all of the success they have achieved, and I can't wait to see what they do next," Underwood said. "We had such a good time together, talking about our favorite holiday traditions and singing some of our favorite holiday songs."
"It was the perfect time to do something like this since we all recorded Christmas music this year," Underwood added.
Maddie & Tae released their first holiday EP, "We Need Christmas," in October, and Runaway June also released their first Christmas EP, "When I Think About Christmas," the same month.
Underwood's "My Gift" album features holiday classics, a few original songs and even some fun collaborations, including a duet with her 5-year-old son, Isaiah. The duo covered the holiday classic, "Little Drummer Boy."
Underwood said it was "a special experience" to sing the hit with her son.
"We didn’t know how it would go and tried not to put any pressure on him and knew that no matter what, it would still be a fun, special experience for us," she said. "He really performed from his heart and that comes across on the record."
