Talk about an iconic collaboration. Thanks to technology, Kane Brown was able to perform with one of his biggest musical influences, Elvis Presley, singing “Blue Christmas” as part of the NBC Christmas at Graceland TV special.
“My Nana is a huge Elvis fan and always has been,” Brown told Billboard, explaining his admiration for the legendary singer. “Growing up, I remember her carrying around a bag with Elvis’ face on it, and my earliest memories of Elvis and his music were of listening to him with her, and how excited she is and still gets hearing his music. My Nana is a superhero, and so having that connection with and memory with her and his music is something that means a lot to me.”
It was Brown’s decision to sing “Blue Christmas,” with the song that much more special because he was joined on the track by Presley.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT65Gmpl8N4
“I chose to cover ‘Blue Christmas’ because it was probably one of my favorite Christmas songs,” Brown recently told his record label. “I don’t have a lot. I used to sing it all the time whenever I was first coming up in the music scene, just while I was warming up and just playing around on stage. So when I got asked to do a Christmas song, of course, I’d have picked that one.
“And to reimagine it with Elvis is amazing,” he added. “I heard it for the first time the other day so just to hear me and Elvis on the same song is crazy.“
The 30-year-old has been vocal about his admiration for Presley, who has influenced Brown’s career more than any other artist.
“Elvis was just his own thing,” Brown told The New York Times last year. “My Nana was a huge Elvis fan; I remember she used to have this crazy bedazzled Elvis purse she would take everywhere, that was just his face blown up on a purse. As I got older, I started listening to his music, and if you really listen, he’s not scared to do anything. I find myself trying to sound like him all the time, on ‘Blue Christmas’ or ‘Hound Dog.’ However long this world goes on, he’ll still be talked about.”
Brown will kick off his In The Air Tour on March 28, joined by a rotating list of opening acts, including Chris Young, Tyler Hubbard, Cole Swindell, Jon Pardi, Parmalee and Bailey Zimmerman, among others. Find “Blue Christmas” and all of Brown’s music and upcoming shows at KaneBrownMusic.com.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Sony Music