From a young age, Dolly felt Christmas was a magical time. And the many home-for-the-holidays-themed songs she’s written show how important Dolly thinks spending the season with family is for all of us. Likewise, Dolly likes to record her Christmas songs with friends, such as Jimmy Fallon, Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers and even her goddaughter, Miley Cyrus. Dolly Parton has been an inspiration to all kinds of people over the years, and we hope she continues to inspire us for years to come. This year, enjoy a Holly Dolly Christmas with this list of the 25 best Dolly Parton Christmas songs, all of which are guaranteed to lift your holiday spirits.
25 Best Dolly Parton Christmas Songs
1. “Joy to the World”
A classic Christmas carol that’s familiar, but here, Dolly performs it with her own signature style.
2. “You Are My Christmas”
This twangy Christmas song tells about the reason for the season; that is, the people you share it with.
3. “Winter Wonderland/Sleigh Ride Medley”
Dolly skillfully meshes these two Christmas-song classics.
4. “Go Tell it on the Mountain”
A holiday must with a nostalgic air. Takes us right back to church Christmas choirs.
5. “Holly Jolly Christmas”
Or perhaps more appropriately here, “Holly Dolly Christmas.”
6. “With Bells On”
An upbeat home-for-the-holidays-themed song from the Once Upon a Christmas album, featuring Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers.
7. “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”
A well-known classic that no Christmas would ever be complete without.
8. “First Noel”
The perfect song for Christmas Eve—as well as the weeks prior.
9. “I Believe in Santa Claus”
This song stays true to Dolly’s theme of Christmas magic.
10. “Christmas Where We Are”
The perfect song for days when you’re snowed in, and don’t mind a bit. This song features Billy Ray Cyrus.
11. “Circle of Love”
This song was written by Dolly Parton herself, and is all about the love of Christ and the Father.
12. “A Christmas to Remember”
A Christmas song with an 80s flare.
13. “Christmas Without You”
We’ve all had Christmases where we missed someone special— a blue Christmas indeed.
14. “Hard Candy Christmas”
This song could be subtitled: The “breakup” Christmas song.
15. “We Three Kings”
This song is from the album Home for Christmas, released in 1990. It was her thirtieth solo studio album.
16. “Comin’ Home for Christmas”
This song begins with what feels like an iconic line: “Mama’s in the kitchen, Christmas on the stove.”
17. “Mary, Did You Know?”
Dolly Parton sang this particular song at the 2020 Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony.
18. “Christmas Is”
Miley Cyrus joined her godmother, Dolly herself, to record this hit song.
19. “All I Want for Christmas is You”
The star of The Tonight Show, Jimmy Fallon, joined Dolly for a cover version of this Mariah Carey song.
20. “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”
Maybe a young Dolly Parton really did see her mommy kissing Santa, about the time this popular song was released in 1952.
21. “White Christmas”
Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers recorded dozens of songs together, including a number of Christmas classics like this one.
22. “Pretty Paper”
Shotgun Willie (Nelson) joins Dolly for this song. He wrote the song himself in 1963.
23. “The Little Drummer Boy”
This song is on the album, Home for Christmas, whose original release was accompanied by Dolly’s 1990 television special, Dolly Parton: Christmas at Home.
24. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
Dolly sings this one for the kids, but you can certainly listen along too.
25. “I’ll be Home for Christmas”
It’s only fitting to end this list of 25 Dolly Parton Christmas songs with “I’ll be Home for Christmas.” So many of her songs talk about her love for her childhood home in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Next up, 75 Christmas Activities to Intentionally Make the Season Oh-So-Bright
