Entertainment Weekly (12/6/02, p.97) - "...One of the most rewarding country Christmases since Emmylou's..."
Personnel includes: Patty Loveless, Ricky Skaggs, Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Trisha Yearwood, Rebeccca Lynn Howard, Jim Horn, Rob Ickes, Stuart Duncan.
Having returned to her childhood musical roots with 2001's MOUNTAIN SOUL, Patty Loveless continues in that vein and gives this journey a holiday twist with the warm embrace of BLUEGRASS & WHITE SNOW: A MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS. Infused with plenty of trilling mandolin, fiddle, and dobro, with nary a drum or electric guitar in sight, this is the kind of collection that's tailor-made for an evening in front of the fireplace trimming the tree. Aided by producer/hubby Emory Gordy Jr., Loveless tucks into a mix of covers and originals steeped more in the religious aspects of the holidays.
Among the more familiar songs featured are a stripped-down "Silent Night," a virtually a capella duet of "Joy To The World" with Jon Randall, and a Celtic-flavored "Little Drummer Boy" (with Rebecca Lynn Howard). Other highlights include a chiming instrumental "Carol of the Bells" spearheaded by the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble and the folksy "Christmas Time's A Comin'" ringing with the background vocals of Carmella Ramsey and Tim Hensley. Serving as a perfect complement to this Tex Logan chestnut are Loveless's own chugging twangfest "Christmas Day At My House" and the rich title track gilded by the puzzle-piece harmonies of Ricky Skaggs and Dolly Parton.