Shortly after announcing that she had signed a new label deal with BMG, country superstar Martina McBride has unveiled plans for an upcoming Christmas album, the first project to be released with the new label. The album, It's the Holiday Season, will include nine holiday songs and is slotted for release on Oct. 19. McBride also plans to release her second cookbook, Martina's Kitchen Mix: My Recipe Playlist for Real Life, featuring nearly 300 pages of family recipe and her original culinary creations, to add even more excitement to the festivities.

McBride's It's the Holiday Season marks the 20th anniversary of her iconic White Christmas album, and McBride says that although it was important to her that the new music have the same classic feel, It's the Holiday Season will take a slightly different approach to getting into the Christmas spirit. "With [White Christmas], I wanted to make it classic and something that would stand the test of time, which I feel like it has done. I wanted to accomplish the same thing with It's the Holiday Season, but with a different feel," McBride explains in a press release.

"So I decided to make the most of the album with a big-band swing vibe that takes you back to the Sinatra, Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald records," she goes on to say. "We recorded more of the pop Christmas numbers that lend themselves to that kind of feel, rather than focusing on the hymns like we did with White Christmas. I think they are great companion pieces, and my hope is that they will both be enjoyed for years to come."

Additionally, McBride will celebrate the season by continuing the holiday tradition of her Joy of Christmas TourWhile the country star is not new to giving a holiday tour, her 2018 outing will embrace the big-band feel of the upcoming album by including three stops at the Nashville Schermerhorn Symphony Center with the backing of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra.

"When I stood in the studio listening to that 38-piece band play, I knew I wanted to take it on the road," McBride recalls. "I am so excited to bring this music to life onstage and bring some of the joy of the season to people. Performing with the symphonies will be such a grand and unique experience for me. I can't wait!"

For more details about the new holiday album and tour, as well as to pre-order It's the Holiday Season and exclusive related merchandise, visit McBride's website. See below for a full list of the Joy of Christmas Tour dates.

Martina McBride, 2018 Joy of Christmas Tour Dates:

Nov. 23 --  Bilox, Miss. @ Beau Rivage
Nov. 24 -- Jacksonville, Fla. @ Florida Theatre
Nov. 25 -- Charlotte, N.C. @ Ovens Auditorium
Nov. 29-Dec. 1 -- Nashville, Tenn. @ Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Dec. 4 -- Atlanta, Ga. @ Atlanta Symphony Hall
Dec. 6 -- Kansas City, Mo. @ Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland
Dec. 7 -- Dallas, Texas @ Majestic Theatre
Dec. 8 -- Sugar Land, Texas @ Smart Financial Centre

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