Brandi Carlile, Leon Thomas & Magnus Ferrell Christmas Covers (Plus a JYT Original) Adorn Starbucks’ First Holiday Album in More Than a Decade

For the first time in more than a decade, Starbucks is getting back into the holiday music business.

The new album Holiday Blend — featuring Christmas covers from Brandi Carlile, Leon Thomas, Coco Jones, Magnus Ferrell, TRÍADA and The Womack Sisters and a yuletide original from the boy band JYT — arrives Wednesday (Nov. 4) on streaming services and coffeehouse playlists via Interscope Records and Universal Music Group, Billboard can exclusively reveal.

The last time Starbucks put out a holiday album was Holidays Rule back in 2012, which featured The Shins, Fun., The Civil Wars, Paul McCartney and more.

For the new album, Carlile performs Joni Mitchell’s “River,” which starts with the holiday-set lyrics “It’s coming on Christmas/ They’re cutting down trees/ They’re putting up reindeer/ And singing songs of joy and peace.” Thomas gets us ready for a funky, festive holiday with his version of James Brown’s “Soulful Christmas.”

Ferrell — who covers the “Happy Holiday / The Holiday Season” medley released by Andy Williams in 1963 — says being part of Holiday Blend “felt like a chance to make something that’s both new and nostalgic. I grew up hearing these songs, so getting to record them in my own way was a pretty special experience.”

For her take on “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” — another 1963 Williams release — Jones said she “was honored and excited to put my own spin on such a beloved holiday classic, and I hope my version brings a little extra joy to people’s celebrations this season.”

The boy band JYT contributes the brand-new song “This Christmas” to Holiday Blend, and the quintet is “pumped” to be part of the Starbucks compilation. “The idea that someone could be ordering a Refresher and hear our song playing is actually crazy,” reads a statement from the group. (Sample lyric: “It’s just you on my wish list/ All I need is your peppermint kisses.”) “This Christmas” was written and produced by JYT mastermind Freddy Wexler, along with co-writer Elliah Heifetz and co-producer Gian Stone.

TRÍADA contribute the only Spanish-language song on the album, with their cover of Luis Miguel’s “Llegó La Navidad,” which itself is a spin on “Winter Wonderland.” “We hope this version feels familiar and fresh at the same time,” the Argentine trio says. “The song has such a beautiful feeling at its heart, and singing it in Spanish let us connect with it in our own way.”

Finally, The Womack Sisters serve up a Stevie Wonder classic, covering his 1967 hit “What Christmas Means to Me.” “For our family, Christmas is the best time of the year,” the R&B trio says. “The holidays are about togetherness, so singing ‘What Christmas Means to Me’ felt like a natural way to celebrate the season and share a piece of that family connection.”

Holiday Blend will also honor the season of giving by including a $500,000 donation to World Central Kitchen to support humanitarian relief efforts around the world.

“Music has always been part of the Starbucks experience, and we are building on that legacy in a way that feels fresh for today,” says Erin Silvoy, Starbucks’ senior vice president, global marketing & channel development. “Holiday Blend brings together incredible artists to put their own spin on songs we all know and love. My hope is that it becomes part of the soundtrack to the season, creating a little more joy and connection whether you’re in a Starbucks coffeehouse or wherever the holidays take you.”

Starbucks has a long history in music, starting with the acquisition of music retailer Hear Music in 1999 and continuing with exclusive music releases in partnership with Concord Music Group. Back in 2006, a Billboard article reported annual album sales of 3.6 million units or approximately $65 million in music revenue via Starbucks. In 2015, Starbucks coffee shops stopped selling CDs, but the brand has continued its music efforts, including a longstanding partnership with Spotify.

Find the full track list below, and start streaming here.

• “Happy Holiday / The Holiday Season”– Magnus Ferrell
• “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” – Coco Jones
• “This Christmas” – JYT
• “Llegó La Navidad” – TRÍADA
• “River” – Brandi Carlile
• “What Christmas Means to Me” – The Womack Sisters
• “Soulful Christmas” – Leon Thomas