There’s Christmas music coming from Carrie Underwood! The American Idol alum announced she would release her first-ever holiday album, My Gift, on September 25.

“I’ve always wanted to make a Christmas album and it’s been a long time coming,” Carrie said in a statement. “I knew this would be my next music project after wrapping my tour last year, and I think it’s turned out to be the perfect time for an album like this, in this period of such personal and spiritual reflection.

“For me, it’s more important than ever to focus on the true meaning of Christmas in a project like this,” she continued. “Even though it has been a tough year for all of us, sometimes I feel like the greatest realizations can be inspired by the most difficult times, and make us more grateful for the things we do have and for what truly matters.”

Carrie also released a video of a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the project.

 

“This year, it was kind of on my heart to do this Christmas album,” Carrie shared in the video. “I just felt like it’s such a fitting time. I kind of feel like it’s a more perfect time than ever to record an album like this. I’ve always wanted to make a Christmas album. It’s something that has to be well thought out, so right after the Cry Pretty Tour 360 was over, this was the next step I knew I wanted to take.”

The name My Gift came from a line in one of the Oklahoma native’s favorite Christmas carols.

“It’s really hard naming a Christmas album,” Carrie said. “I tried to think about the songs that were in it. I started thinking about individual songs. One of my favorites is ‘Little Drummer Boy.’ It’s one of my favorites because the sentiment behind it is just so honest. There’s a little boy, and of course I think of my five-year-old Isaiah. They’re bringing gifts to baby Jesus. He doesn’t have anything; he’s poor. So he says, ‘I know. I’m gonna play my drum for Him. That’s what I have.’

“To me, that’s a gift that was given to him by God, his love of music,” she continued. “I imagine he was a good little drummer. I love music; I love singing. That is my personal little gift that I get to do, that I’m so blessed to do. I want to use that gift, and I want to give it back to Jesus. That’s why I landed on My Gift as an album title.”

My Gift will also be available on vinyl on October 30. Pre-order the album here.