NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Just in time for the holiday season, Flat River Band recruits GRAMMY® award-winning Grand Ole Opry member Jeannie Seely to unleash their festive original song, “Christmas Time,” available today. To stream and download “Christmas Time (feat. Jeannie Seely),” click HERE.
The song, which was written by Chad Sitze of Flat River Band and produced by GRAMMY® Award-winner Tre’ Corley, paints a visual of a joyous holiday season, with bells ringing, kids singing and smiles spreading everywhere. Through lyrics like “Now I read that same story / To my four little boys / My only prayer / Is they one day share / The true meaning of Christmas Joy,” this heartfelt holiday track reflects a tradition of passing down the profound story of a sacrificial man. The father reads it annually, hoping his children will one day grasp the true essence of Christmas joy within the narrative.
“It has been so exciting to watch the Flat River Band reach for, and accomplish, new heights in their career! So I was even more excited to be asked to record with them on a new Christmas song describing all the things we love about Christmas. It also shows what we love about Flat River Band!” shared GRAMMY® winning artist, Jeannie Seely.
“What an honor to join forces with Miss Country Soul Jeannie Seely – she’s still got it! What an amazing woman!” shared Flat River Band.
The band’s previous single, “God Bless the Radio,” which “delivers a breezy outdoor performance, interspersed with shots that underscore their reverence for a life in country music (Taste of Country),” encapsulates treasured memories from the trio of brother’s earliest memories growing up in Southeast Missouri. From spending nights perched on their truck’s tailgate to tune into WSM radio broadcasts, to hosting their own family band radio shows, and presently, residing in Middle Tennessee remaining dedicated listeners of Bill Cody, “God Bless the Radio” offers an anthemic tribute to the influence of radio on their lives.
To stay up-to-date on Flat River Band follow them on Facebook and Instagram and visit FlatRiverBand.com.
Stay in touch with Jeannie Seely on her website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
ABOUT FLAT RIVER BAND:
Flat River Band consists of three brothers Andy, Chad and Dennijo Sitze, who grew up in a multi-generational family band. Performing alongside their parents and grandparents, they held residencies at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri and at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Throughout their tenure in music, the Missouri natives have charted #1 hits on the bluegrass gospel charts and have opened for The Chicks’ Natalie Maines, Alison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs, Rhonda Vincent, TG Sheppard and more. The trio’s songs can be found in the 2018 movie The Least of These, A Christmas Story, featuring Duane Allen (The Oak Ridge Boys), Deborah Allen and Tayla Lynn (Loretta Lynn’s granddaughter). The band recently released a new five-song EP, Sights and Sounds, which has given the trio exposure in the spotlight of the Americana and Country formats.
ABOUT JEANNIE SEELY:
Jeannie Seely’s deep, moving vocals earned her the nickname of “Miss Country Soul,” a title that’s still used today. An esteemed singer, songwriter, producer, actress, author and on-air personality, Seely added another title, “Doctor,” to her resume when she was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Arts from Lincoln Memorial University in 2019. The third female country artist to win a GRAMMY® is also among a select group of country artists who have scored No. 1 hits as a solo artist, duet partner and songwriter. On September 16, 1967, Seely fulfilled her lifelong dream of joining the Grand Ole Opry®, becoming the first Pennsylvania native to do so. 56 years later, Seely makes clear that it’s still a thrill and an honor each time she performs on the world-famous stage. From her 1966 Top 10 Billboard album, The Seely Style, which featured “Don’t Touch Me,” to her self-produced album, Written in Song, consisting entirely of songs she’s written and recorded for more than 10 Country Music Hall of Fame® members, Seely’s recordings have spanned seven decades. Seely first appeared on the Billboard charts in 1966, continued to score entries for 13 consecutive years on various Billboard charts, and as recently as 2022, has had a presence on the MusicRow charts. Seely also garnered a No. 1 on the Record World Country Singles chart in 1971 as well as a No. 1 on the Bluegrass Today chart in 2019. In his 2003 book, Finding Her Voice: The Saga of Women in Country Music, music critic Robert K. Oermann wrote, “With her chin-out, tough/tender, heart-of-gold manner, Jeannie Seely remains one of Country’s most completely modern female personalities,” and that statement still holds true. With a strong social media following and over four million views on her YouTube channel, Seely continues to expand her international presence as music sales and messages from fans worldwide pour in. She appeared in Willie Nelson’s movie Honeysuckle Rose and sang on the film’s RIAA® platinum-certified soundtrack, and for over five years, Seely has hosted her own show, “Sundays with Seely,” on SiriusXM’s Willie’s Roadhouse. She also served as a disc jockey on her own Armed Forces Network Show, which launched after her tour abroad for the troops. Seely continues to receive letters of appreciation from American soldiers for her support. She is also a fierce advocate for musicians’ rights, and takes much pride in her involvement and support for the cause. Nelson, along with Rhonda Vincent, Bill Anderson, Lorrie Morgan, Ray Stevens and many more of her friends, joined Seely for her current project on Curb Records, An American Classic, which has seen rave reviews and three radio releases. Most recently, Seely won the Song of the Year Award at the Arkansas Country Music Awards.
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