Remember the excitement of waking up as a kid on Christmas morning and running over to the tree to see the goodies that Santa left? As an adult, sometimes we get that same warm and fuzzy feeling by playing Santa. There is something magical about watching the face of a loved one when they open up a special present bought, or even made, with love from you. And who could forget the smell of a real tree in the living room. . . unless, of course you prefer fake because let’s face it. . . . real ones can be a lot of work. Either way, the twinkle of the white or colored lights on the tree, the porch, the windows, the bushes, seems to bring a sense of calmness and peace to this otherwise hectic time of year. And no, one family, or individual is the same when it comes to their trees or the presents that go underneath them.
Tim Rushlow
Best gift you’ve ever given someone else? I’ve always like giving gifts a lot better than receiving them and I’m actually not real good when people ask me what I want. I feel very blessed to content just to be here. I think my entire family would say our most fun times are of when we give to people that don’t expect it like a full blown Christmas dinner for the holidays delivered to the door. We always love to do that.
Real tree or fake? We actually have a 14 foot fake tree that we bought over 20 years ago, it’s a real pain to put together, but everybody that sees it tells us to never get rid of it because it looks so darn real. We have a few tricks as well like adding cinnamon and fresh pine scent and people really do think it’s a real tree.
Scooter Brown Band
Best gift you ever gave someone else? When I was in the Marine Corps, I told my family I couldn’t make it home for Christmas and surprised them by showing up at the front door. That was pretty special.
Real tree or fake? White lights or colored? I prefer real but have a fake. With a wife, 4 kids, 2 huskies & 2 cats, fake is easier and safer. Haha. I love white lights.
Jenna Paulette
Real tree or fake? Real tree but the the lights? Well it depends on the house and the bulbs. Big bulbs multi are cool/fun and white traditional are so classy
Ashley McBryde
Real tree or fake? White lights or colored? I grew up with fake ones. But I like both. ALL THE LIGHTS!!! On Everything that can possibly have lights hung on it!
Joe Denim
Best gift you ever game someone else? GRASS FLIPFLOPS
Real tree or fake? White lights or colored? FAKE DOUGLAS FIR – colored lights
Paul Bogart
Best gift you ever game someone else? I asked my wife to marry me and gave her an engagement ring on Christmas.
Real tree or fake? White lights or colored? Fake tree at our house because we always for at least a week around Christmas and we done want a real one drying out. We put colored lights outside and white lights on the tree
Ronnie McDowell
Best gift you ever game someone else? We start the Annual Ronnie McDowell Christmas Shopping Tour a few years back, and that’s always one of the most precious holiday moments for us.
John Berry
Best gift you ever gave someone else? An exciting Christmas was the year Robin and I got each one of our kids their very own horse and saddle. Once all the gifts had been open I took the kids down to the barn and their horses were in the stall with big ribbons wrapped around them.
Real or fake tree? White lights or colored? It’s always a fake tree at our house. We leave on Christmas tour the middle of November, so Robin and I put the tree up on November 1 and spend the next few days decorating the house. Since we aren’t home until Christmas Eve, we keep it up til mid January, just so we can enjoy it.
Ashyln Grayce
Best gift you ever game someone else? A few years ago, my childhood home of 20 years was torn down. It was very emotional because it was the home my parents bought when they first got married and where my little brother and I grew up sharing so many fond memories. This happened right around Christmas so Hunter and I made a window box for my parents with lots of sentimental pieces from the house including pictures, dried wild flowers from the back yard, the front door key, and garage remote control. I know it meant so much to them and is hung up in the living room at their new house. Later, I wrote a song about it too called “601,” which was the street number on the house (and is on my EP, Something’ ‘Bout A Song).
Tim Atwood
Best gift you ever gave someone else? My mother grew up poor. As a child, she always wanted to be a majorette in the marching band, but there was no money for any of life’s extras. When mom turned 70 years old, my wife and I gave my her a baton and a pair of white marching boots with a white tassel attached. When mom opened that gift she cried like a baby. Later that day she put on her boots with a pair of short shorts and marched around the house twirling her baton. She said it was the best gift she ever received. It’s never too late to make a dream come true!
Katie Austen
Best gift you ever game someone else? My boyfriend was a Blue Devil Drum Corp snare drummer and won a championship while marching. Over the years he lost his letter jacket that meant a lot to him. I called the team in California and has his jacket remade! I also found a championship patch from the year they won on eBay and bought it from a collector! His face was priceless!!
Ashton Shepherd
Best gift you ever game someone else? I gotta be honest, I enjoy every present I ever give anybody. It makes me feel good to do something thoughtful for others. The best gifts I feel like though are the gifts that are something someone needed very badly and has been wanting to and wasn’t expecting. I love to make someone feel loved that way.
Real tree or fake? White lights or colored? I use a fake tree and I’ve always been a colored lights fan. In my mind, colored lights just sort of say home to me and warmth.
Hayden Haddock
Best gift you ever game someone else? It’s going to be this year! As my album was just released EVERYONE and I do mean everyone on my Christmas list is getting a signed CD of the first ones printed.
Ana Cristina Cash
Best give you ever gave to someone else? I have given my parents theatre tickets almost every year and they really enjoy seeing musicals and plays.
Real tree or fake? White lights or colored? When we’re feeling lazy, we do the fake tree. It’s just easier. But there’s nothing like the smell of a real tree which we sometimes do. I feel like white lights are classy.
Bailey James
Best gift you ever gave someone else? I wrote and performed a Christmas song for my Memom (aka: grandmother). We were both in tears for the last half of the song!
Real tree or fake? White lights or colored? I’m a hippie, so REAL!!! We laugh about this a lot because when we see a neighborhood full of white lights, we know that those are people that live comfortably. I come from color lights, cardboard cutouts and blow up displays. We call it blue collar Christmas and I call it perfect!
Walker Montgomery
Best gift you ever game to someone else? Our basement had flooded and our Angel/tree topper that my parents bought on their first Christmas together was ruined so the next year I bought my mom one that was really similar to our original
Real or fake tree? White lights or colored? Real tree w/ white lights.
Sundance Head
Best gift you ever gave to someone else? All of Santa’s presents and the smiles on kids’ faces
Real or fake tree? White lights or colored? In past—real. This year—fake. And white lights for trees–colors for outside.
Travis Rice
Best gift you ever gave someone else? Hmmm…I think it would have to be the coat we bought for my father. He freezes all the time and so we got him an electric coat that runs off batteries. He can stay toasty warm now and be outside like he enjoys so much!
Real tree or fake? White lights or colored? I love a real tree, but it’s hard to find one that looks as good as the fake ones they have these days. Definitely white lights! Simple and beautiful!
Alexandra Harper (Music City CMT)
Best give you ever gave someone else? I gave my dad a $10.99 “Clapper” several years ago, the thing that you plug into an electrical outlet to use for turning on/off lights by clapping your hands, and I swear it was his favorite gift he’s ever received.
Real or fake tree? White lights or colored? Fake tree all the way. My mom has the most beautiful Christmas tree in the world and she has both white and colored lights
Kerry Degman (Music City CMT)
Best gift you ever gave somebody else? Buying my son an iPad made everybody’s life easier. Especially on road trips. I deserve a Nobel Peace Prize for that one!
Real tree or fake? Colored lights or white? Real and I have to cut it down myself. And all the colors. Not a fan of the modern, clean, “Don’t touch it,” look. It’s Christmas! It’s supposed to be warm and comfortable and messy.
Alisa Fuller (Music City CMT)
Best give you ever gave someone else? I am the BEST gift giver if I do say so myself. I like to give customized gifts with either the person’s name or something that is personal to them on it. My best gift was probably the custom entryway sign I gave to my newly married mom and her husband. They loved it!
Real tree or fake? Colored lights or white? ALWAYS a real tree. I love the smell and I enjoy vacuuming the pine needles once Christmas is over and the tree gets thrown out. I prefer colored lights on the tree and white lights on the house.
Stephen Barker Liles (Love and Theft)
Real tree or fake? Colored lights or white? Fake tree for sure. SO easy to take care of. White lights all the way everyday
Candi Carpenter
Real tree or fake? Colored lights or white? Fake, just like my eyeleashes.
Whatever still works after a year in my basement.
Hannah Bethel
Best gift you ever gave someone else? I’ve made some pretty righteous scrapbooks.
Colored lights or white? Colored lights! And the warm, glowy ones from the nineties, not the new LED ones that make your living room feel like the inside of an Office Max.
2Steel Girls
Krystal: I like a fake tree. I don’t want to be held responsible for watering a real tree. Let’s face it-I’d forget and Christmas would be ruined!
Allison: I like to decorate just enough to ease my guilt. Pine scented, tree shaped air fresher. Good enough.
K: Colored!
A: Black. Like the coal I’ll get in my stocking!
Kamryn Palmer
Best give you ever game to someone else? I love gifts that are personalized with photos. I have given a couple gifts over the holidays that are personalized with pictures like mugs, photo-books, and a blanket! I think it’s always fun to see the reaction of a friend or family member when your memories are a part of the gift.
JT Lewis
Best gift you ever gave someone else? I once shot a squirrel, and brought it to a buddy in a restaurant (you can imagine the looks I was getting lol-worth it). He loved it, so we took it home where I cleaned and cooked it fresh for him on the grill.
Real tree or fake? Love the smell of the real thing… but also love the convenience of the fake ones. Hopefully they make my hologram tree idea soon. Most convenient and better for the environment.
Danielle Johnson
Best give you ever game to someone else? My favorite gift I’ve given would definitely be singing and playing guitar to my papa while he was in the hospital bed. That was the day he passed. So grateful for the gift that God has blessed me with to be able to share it with the people I love.
Real tree or fake? Colored lights or white?I love the smell of a real tree! It just smells like Christmas! I prefer white lights.
Ben Caesre Band
Best gift you ever gave someone else? Probably a customized pillow from Shutterfly with a photo of the day I proposed to my wife, then fiancé/girlfriend. I was down on one knee proposing on the dock in her backyard which is on a Riverside in Salem MA.
Audio Vixen
Best gift you ever game someone else? If we’re speaking material gifts, tools for dad and handmade cards for mum but, the best gift is all of us getting together as we are a very close Italian family…this is very important and traditional for us.
Real tree or fake? White lights or colored? Real tree with lights lots of decoration and a ball with names of every family member.
Chris Turner
Real tree or fake? White lights or colored? Depends on if I am home through the holidays or not. – I like the white and colored lights – I’m for equal opportunity..
Re Mattei
Best gift you ever game someone else? I surprised my Mom with a demo of Santa’s Gone Country at Christmas one year. It was the first time she ever heard it with a band.
Real tree or fake? Fake.
White lights or colored? Both. I have my first artificial tree in 3 yrs. I had no tree for 3 yrs and I am so excited to have a tree this year. It has 8 light settings with various combinations of clear and color lights. It’s awesome!
Terra Bella
Best gift you ever game someone else?
Martina: This year I got Joe a new Martin guitar!
Joe: I gave Martina a squash blossom necklace that we hope to keep in our family for generations.
Real tree or fake? White lights or colored?
TB: We prefer real although we rarely get one because of our crazy lifestyle. As far as lights go we like em like we dress…colorful!
Carolyn Routh (of Nu-Blu)
Real tree or fake? White lights or colored? I’ve had many trees through the years, live, fake, white lights, colored lights. For the last five or six years, we’ve had a fake white birch tree. It’s decorated with alternating white or colored lights, and decked out with all blue, silver, and white ornaments. We always have a nativity by the tree to help us celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Christ.
Sabin Sharpe
Best gift you ever gave someone else? Well, as a father, I’ve got to say the gift of life! *laughs* Just kidding! I’d say the most meaningful gift I ever gave was a coat of my back to a homeless man.
Real tree or fake? White lights or colored? I definitely like both for different reasons; I like the process of the real tree, going to pick it out and cut it down, and it smells good, too! But, if I have to decide, I’d have to say a fake tree because it’s easier and less messy. I’m a fan of both types of lights, but you can’t go wrong with colored!
Dustin Olson
Best give you ever game someone else? I used to get my mom just about every Kohl’s Christmas decoration imaginable, from dish sets to table decorations and candles. We lost her just before Christmas in 2013 and I managed to hold in my feelings until I was in Kohls Christmas shopping and saw all of the things I would have normally gotten her. I lost it. Like, toddler tantrum curled up hiding under a clothes rack, lost it. I ended up buying it all anyway and giving it to my aunts that year. I wrote a note to my Godmother telling her why and watching them open it all and her read the note. I’ll never forget that feeling of happiness washing wiping away grief.
Real tree or fake? Real of course. My family has a “cut your own” tree farm. So growing up we would walk out our back door and walk 50 yards into a tree field and pick one out. It was usually a homely looking one or one that looked good from maybe one side. That way we could use up one that we knew would never sell. There is nothing like fresh pine in the house. Christmas just doesn’t feel right without it.
Bobby Marquez
Best gift you ever gave someone else? The year after my father-in-law passed away, I had a special fiddle he had handed down to my wife from his grandfather all restored. It was so sentimental. She just cried. It was amazing. She sounded wonderful playing it all day.
Chere Pepper
Best gift you ever gave someone else? Tread Mill! Got it for my husband (me too lol)
Real tree or fake? Fake tree, Don’t wanna mess with needles.
LYRX
Best gift you ever gave someone else? I think that would have to be the Fender Telecaster I gave my brother for his birthday and Christmas. His birthday is two days after Christmas so we would always combine his gifts. I’m sure he didn’t always love that! Anywho, I was in a band and so broke as a waitress, but my brother Shay (Mooney) was just as into music as me. One of my friends were selling their guitar and I knew he would love it. Took me forever to pay it off because $250 felt like $10,000 back then! I think it’s more about coming from the heart than the amount of money spent. I’d never spent that much on a gift but that’s just how close my family is. It’s not about money, it’s about making each other feel special. It was my way of showing him I supported his career and believed in him.
Real tree or fake? White lights or colored? I LOVE REAL TREES! The smell is so amazing. I haven’t been able to have a real tree in my house in a while, but one of these days I want to do that again. I always use white lights, but I love going to look at colored! So white for my house, colored for everybody else’s. Haha!
Shari Rowe
Best gift you ever game someone else? I got a drone for my husband a couple of years ago and he’s still pretty excited about it haha!
Real tree or fake? Both! Arizona is very dry, so we put up a fake one the day after Thanksgiving, and a real one about two weeks before Christmas.
White lights or colored? Mostly white
Deanie Richardson (member of Grammy-nominated Sister Sadie)
Best gift you ever gave someone else?I’m super pumped about my 2 year old Granddaughter this year. I got her a 1/10th size fiddle. She loves mine and wants to play it all the time.
Spence Reed
Best gift you ever gave someone else? My friend and I used to play Nintendo 64 ALL the time when we were kids. A few years ago (probably six or seven), he rediscovered his N64 console, but couldn’t find his power cord. I don’t remember exactly why he didn’t go online and buy one… maybe he just couldn’t find it online. I went digging through my old boxes and came across my system and gave him the power cord. I’ve given more expensive gifts than just a simple power cord, but this one was probably the most appreciated gift I’ve ever given.
Jeff Clayborn
Best gift you ever game someone else? Concert tickets!! Yanni and Chicago tickets
Real tree or fake? White lights or colored? Nothing like the real thing! White lights