Zach Williams debuts first Christmas album, 'I Don't Want Christmas To End'

10-song project was recorded at legendary FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals

Zach Williams' first full-length Christmas album, “I Don't Want Christmas To End,” released Friday (Provident Label Group/Sony Music). Featuring his penned title track and classics “Christmas Time Is Here” and “This Christmas,” Williams goes all out with his southern rock mastery with songs such as “Merry Christmas Baby’ and “Run Run Rudolph." The 10-track project, produced by Jonathan Smith, was recorded at the legendary FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

From the start, this two-time Grammy-winning hitmaker knew he needed the right sound and vibe to celebrate the season year after year. “I Don’t Want Christmas To End” goes beyond that – his camp calls it “a holly-jolly-party-turned-jam-session worthy of its title” – and according to Williams, that’s due to recording at FAME.

“We knew we wanted it to have a rock ‘n’ roll edge, a southern rock feel. That’s when we got the idea to go down to Muscle Shoals,” Williams said. FAME, where artists from The Gregg Allman Band, Aretha Franklin and Little Richard have recorded, is preserved in all its 1960s rock glory and a key component in capturing the sound for “I Don’t Want Christmas To End.” “We got down there and all the original gear is still there from the 60s – the original rooms, the original console. Recording there really made the songs come alive even more than I thought it was going to.”

Recorded in the round, Williams and his band played their holiday favorites how they’d want to hear them. “White Christmas” became an Elvis “Blue Christmas” tribute, updated to Williams’ Arkansas and Tennessee roots. “Merry Christmas Baby” was reimagined as a Van Morrison classic. “Run Run Rudolph” became a Ray Charles-inspired piano rocker. “Mary Did You Know” became an entirely new song with its "Mustang Sally" vibe, as if it was recorded in the 60s. Every song, while instantly familiar, surprises with unexpected twists that still feel vintage.

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Williams cannot wait to take these holiday songs live on the road on his "I Don't Want Christmas To End" Tour. Featuring special guest Anne Wilson, the 11-city tour running through December will be an evening filled with music and fun celebrating the reason for the season. Visit his tour page to find dates and tickets. 

Fans can kick off their holiday season by getting a chance to win Williams' favorite things. Included in this special giveaway is a Fender Jack Rack, professional in-ear monitors and signed merchandise. Click here to find out more. 

And until the Christmas tour kicks off, don't miss Williams' 40-city-plus "The Rescue Story Tour" with CAIN and We The Kingdom. The tour wraps Nov. 28 when Williams, along with CAIN, performs a special hometown show at Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium. Click here for the latest ticket information.

Williams is a husband, father, recording artist and songwriter, and a two-time Grammy winner (“Chain Breaker,” 2018; "There Was Jesus," 2021). Along with an additional five nominations, Williams is also a multi-GMA Dove Awards and K-LOVE Fan Awards winner and nominee.

He made history with two consecutive radio No. 1 hits for 35 weeks as a debut artist ("Chain Breaker," "Old Church Choir"), and "There Was Jesus," his duet with Dolly Parton, topped the charts for multiple weeks. Most of all, Williams' music comes from a place of humility and honesty as his songs are a direct reflection of God's redemption in his life.

"Chain Breaker," his record-breaking and RIAA-certified Platinum single from the album “Chain Breaker” (RIAA-certified Gold), has impacted millions of people around the world, earning Williams his first Grammy nomination in 2017 for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song, two Billboard Music Award nominations (Top Christian Song, Top Christian Album) and a 2018 American Music Award nomination for Favorite Artist – Contemporary Inspirational. He also received another Grammy nod in 2019 for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album, “Survivor: Live from Harding Prison,” and in 2020 for "Rescue Story" (Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song). "Old Church Choir" and "Fear Is a Liar" are both RIAA-certified Gold.

Williams performed his RIAA-certified Gold single "There Was Jesus" live with Parton on the 53rd Annual CMA Awards. The song also made the Pandora Top Spins chart for 12 consecutive weeks and named one of Pandora’s top 100 songs across all genres. Additionally, "There Was Jesus" was WAY-FM's top song of 2020. 

For more information, visit ZachWilliamsMusic.com.