Carly Pearce loves everything about the holidays, including the food. The 32-year-old reveals one of her favorite ways to celebrate the season is by making something creative — and challenging — with  her own mother.

“I have a lot of traditions that I do with my mom every year,” Pearce told the Country Music Association. “But I think my favorite that we’ve kind of created as I’ve gotten older is that we drink a lot of wine, and we try to make a really complicated Christmas cake. And we haven’t failed yet, so we’ll see.”

Pearce has always been a big fan of Christmas, dating back to when she was a little girl and spent the holidays with her extended family.

“We always went to my Grandma and Grandpa Pearce’s house that I always talk about in my music,” Pearce shared with her record label. “And we always would go; there were a few houses in my area in Kentucky that they decorated like nothing I’ve ever seen. There was even a Santa and Mrs. Claus that would sit outside and hand out hot chocolate and things to the kids, and we always did that.”

Pearce will likely share her holiday season this year with her longtime boyfriend, Riley King. The “What He Didn’t Do” singer says their relationship will be highlighted in her forthcoming new album, scheduled to be released in 2023.

“I’m really excited about it,” Pearce tells Everything Nash. “I write from where I am in my life. So I think that you’re gonna see this new season of life for me, and more confidence in the kind of country music that I make, and really just waving my flag in that. I think you’ll see the beauty of falling in love again, but also the hardships that come with trusting somebody again, and that push and pull of what that looks like. So I think it’s gonna be just, you’ll know exactly where I’m at in my life.”

Pearce recently hosted CMA Country Christmas, also performing “Here Comes Santa Claus” and “Man With A Bag,” along with a bluegrass medley of popular Christmas songs with Molly Tuttle. The show is currently streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

Pearce will serve as the opening act on Blake Shelton‘s Back to the Honky Tonk Tour in early 2023. Find all of Pearce’s music and tour dates at CarlyPearce.com.