Cher admits she “never intended” to release a Christmas album.
The 77-year-old music icon explained how her upcoming holiday album, titled Christmas, came about in a new interview with Billboard.
“I had no intention of doing a Christmas album,” she told the outlet. “But (Warner Records) said, ‘Why don’t you do a Christmas album, Cher?’ And I said if I can do my version, I’ll do it, and they were very pleasant.”
The performer noted that she decided to avoid the standard holiday songs when creating the album.
“Everybody’s got Santa Claus is Coming to Town and Jingle Bell and all that,” she explained. “I just told them, ‘There are going to be Christmas songs and they’re going to be appropriate, but I want to do what I feel.'”
The new studio album will feature 13 songs, including four originals. She will also be joined by artists such as Stevie Wonder, Cyndi Lauper, Darlene Love, Michael Bublé and Tyga.
Warner Records co-chairman and COO Tom Corson also praised the “incredible” holiday album.
“She has made not just a Christmas album, but an incredible Christmas album that will rival and stand alongside the great Christmas albums of all time,” he proclaimed.
Cher released the album’s first single, titled DJ Play A Christmas Song, on Friday. Christmas is scheduled for release on October 20.
In addition to the holiday album, Cher will release a deluxe edition of her 1998 album Believe on November 3 to celebrate its 25th anniversary.
