Spending Christmas with Joni Harms

Joni Harms has been known to put western back into country.  Ever since she has been signed to Capitol Records in the early 1990s, Joni Harms has had released twelve outstanding western slanted country albums.

Harms is also the winner of multiple Academy of Western Artists Awards including top honor for Entertainer of the Year in 2002. In 2003, Harms was named Female Vocalist of the Year and accepted the award for Song of the Year from the Western Music Association. Harms continues building audiences through appearances on the famed Grand Ole Opry and even an appearance at New York City's Carnegie Hall.

Recently, Harms has just released her brand new live album "From Oregon to Ireland," a two-live CD set that contains favorites such as "That's Faith," "Here Comes the Country," "Catalog Dreams," "Joseph Built the Cradle" and many others.  We are so honored to catch up with Joni Harms for this Hallels' exclusive Christmas interview.

Hallels:  As we are entering into the time of Christmas, how do you normally celebrate Christmas?

I enjoy decorating the house and doing some holiday cooking and baking with my daughter Olivia and son Luke. I also enjoy playing Christmas music for folks. I try to do several Holiday concerts during the Christmas season

Hallels:  You have a Christmas album entitled "Christmas in the Country," do you have any special traditions you observe during Christmas that is uniquely country?  

We raise cattle and Christmas tree's on our ranch so when we get close to Christmas (like the last week of Dec. or so)I invite the closest neighbors and family members to light a candle and go caroling through the Christmas tree's.It is always a lot of fun!!!The cattle seem to enjoy it too! 

Hallels:  Let's talk a little about your Christmas album, you have written all the songs except one of them, do you have a couple of songs that really mean a lot to you from that record?  And why are they special?

That would be "The Little Grey Donkey"It was one of the last songs I wrote for the CD.

I was having a cup of coffee after feeding the cattle one morning and we had a miniature donkey in the pasture with them.I looked at him and started thinking what a small little animal to carry Mary with child all the way to Bethlehem.I picked up my guitar and wrote "The Little Grey Donkey" in a matter of minutes.

It is a story that has touched many and has been sung by children's choirs in churches and elsewhere.I am happy to have written a song that has such a positive message for folks to listen to at Christmas time or any time!(It is also in a book form for children to read with lots of pictures)

Hallels:  Besides your own music, what other Christmas albums do you listen to during this season?

Christmas music starts in our house right after Thanksgiving and is pretty much going at all hours of the day!If we are not playing it on the stereo my family and I are playing musical instruments and singing ourselves! I have lots of Christmas CD's to choose from butone CD we definitely play every year is Kenny Roger's and Dolly Parton's "Once Upon A Christmas" 

Hallels:  What does Christmas mean to you personally?  

I am proud to say I am a believer so one of the things I love to do at Christmas time (Or anytime) is spread the joy of Jesus birth!!! 

Hallels:  You also have a live album that you've just released, for some of our readers who have not heard it yet, can you tell us more about it?

Yes! I recently recorded a LIVE album in Ireland with the Sheerin Family band.

It is a collection of some of my favorite and most requested songs that hopefully get your toes tapping!

It is my 12th CD. Please have a look at all of them on my web site: www.joniharms.com 

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