It’s holiday shopping time again. If you’re looking for something truly, er, memorable for the country music lover in your life, we’ve once again compiled our annual holiday shopping guide of the most unique items we could find, with picks ranging from the unusual to the truly weird that are suitable for every price range.
With so many country artists having extended their brands in the last couple of years to include lines of home goods (Lady Antebellum, Reba McEntire, Kellie Pickler, Kimberly Schlapman, Trisha Yearwood), furniture (Eric Church, Yearwood), clothing (Luke Bryan, Dustin Lynch, Karen Fairchild, McEntire, Brad Paisley), boots (Church) and even makeup (McEntire), the shopping options in 2016 are greatly expanded. Here are some of our favorite finds.
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The Oak Ridge Boys Favorite Southern Style Bread ‘N’ Butter Jalapeños: $6.95
The legendary band has picked a peck of pickled peppers, available at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store (but not in the online shop). This made-in-the-U.S.A. product includes a spicy mix of jalapenos and onions, and is advertised as having no artificial ingredients, colors, flavors or preservatives, much like the band itself.
Brantley Gilbert Bottoms Up Footed Onesie Pajamas: $69.95
This black, footed onesie includes a hood, the BG logo on the chest and the song title “Bottoms Up” pretty much where you would expect to find it.
Reba McEntire’s Rockin’ R by Reba Giddy Up Stick Horse: $16.99
A classic child’s toy, McEntire’s version of the stick horse comes in two colors with a plush head, soft mane and built-in sounds. It’s part of the singer’s line of home goods, jewelry and toys at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, which claims the toy will provide “tons of Wild West fun.”
McEntire fans interested in replicating her eye makeup look may also want to pick up the singer’s Center Stage Smokey Eye Palette ($49), which includes five shades. It’s part of her new cosmetics line created in conjunction with her longtime makeup pro, Barry Freedman.
Eric Church Banner Bar Cabinet ($300) And Melody Ottoman ($250)
The Americana style accent pieces from Church’s Highway to Home furniture collection feature hand-painted song lyrics. The bar cabinet showcases lyrics from “Talladega,” along with an American flag design and a distressed wood finish. The inside includes stemware and bottle racks. The upholstered-top ottoman with metal trim and rope handles is painted with lyrics from the song “Springsteen” and doubles as both a seat and a storage container.
Grand Ole Opry Store Cowboy Rooster Ornament: $16.99
The Opry Shop is a treasure trove of cool holiday items with a few more bizarre offerings mixed in, like this sparkly rooster ornament inexplicably dressed as a cowboy in a hat, boots and bandana.
Cole Swindell Chillin’ Mini Cooler: $25
If you have a hit song called “Chillin’ It,” it’s only logical to make sure your merch line includes a cooler. This one has an adjustable shoulder strap and top and side pockets, and holds nine cans.
Kellie Pickler White Christmas Snow Globe: $49.99
Part of Pickler’s Selma Drye line of home goods (which are sold at the Grand Ole Opry Store), this lighted piece with a porcelain base plays “White Christmas.” It comes with a removable pewter snowflake ornament.
Kenny Chesney Orange Board Shorts: $45
This polyester drawstring bathing suit — in the distinctive color of the University of Tennessee Vols — includes a palm tree design and Chesney’s signature embroidered on the right cargo pocket.
Ugly Christmas Sweaters Galore: $35-$68
Among the interesting Christmas sweater offerings this year are Blake Shelton’s custom-knit Drunk Rudolph sweater ($55) and Brett Eldredge’s Tipsy Elves-brand sweaters ($58-$68). Eldredge’s tops come in several designs, including one that reads “Single and ready to jingle” and another featuring Santa Claus riding a unicorn. All sweaters come with a copy of Eldredge’s new holiday album, Glow, which fans can request by typing the word “glow” in the “code” section of the online store when they check out.
Meanwhile, nonprofit Musicians on Call has teamed up with three country artists to offer limited-edition sweaters for $35, with proceeds helping fund the program’s worthy efforts to bring live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in hospitals nationwide. Sam Hunt, Sara Evans and Florida Georgia Line designed their own sweaters, with the latter’s promoting the duo’s whiskey brand with the message “Old Camp keeps your spirits high.” Evans’ design is a wine bottle and glass with the message “All I Want for Christmas.” Hunt gives a nod to the film Say Anything with an image of a bear in a long Santa coat holding a boom box over its head.
50-Caliber Ray Scott Bottle Opener: $20
Here’s another one for a good cause. Indie artist Scott has partnered with the Veteran Beer Company to sell this bottle opener made from actual 50-caliber bullets allegedly fired in battle. An unspecified portion of the proceeds will benefit the Vets Returning Home Organization. In 2017, Scott will also earmark some of the proceeds for a Nashville-based charity that assists veterans.
Happy holidays!