{"id":6531,"date":"2025-11-07T17:53:08","date_gmt":"2025-11-07T17:53:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/musictechohio.online\/site\/hunter-hayes-unveils-evergreen-holiday-ep-chosen-as-grand-marshal-for-2025-gatlinburg-christmas-parade\/"},"modified":"2025-11-07T17:53:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T17:53:08","slug":"hunter-hayes-unveils-evergreen-holiday-ep-chosen-as-grand-marshal-for-2025-gatlinburg-christmas-parade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/musictechohio.online\/site\/hunter-hayes-unveils-evergreen-holiday-ep-chosen-as-grand-marshal-for-2025-gatlinburg-christmas-parade\/","title":{"rendered":"Hunter Hayes Unveils \u2018Evergreen\u2019 Holiday EP; Chosen as Grand Marshal for 2025 Gatlinburg Christmas Parade"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.spin.com\/files\/2025\/11\/Hunter-christmas1568-scaled.jpg\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1708\" alt=\"\"><figcaption>Photo Courtesy of Hunter Hayes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Hunter Hayes is stepping into the 2025 holiday season in a major way.\u00a0The Grammy-nominated, multi-instrumentalist and Platinum-selling artist has spent the past year in his\u00a0<em>Evergreen<\/em>\u00a0era \u2013 marked by genre-bending production, soulful storytelling, and a mission to celebrate growth. This December, Hayes will serve as the Grand Marshal for the 50th Anniversary of the Gatlinburg Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade, which is set for December 5th in Tennessee. Before he waves to tens of thousands of fans along the Smoky Mountain parade route, Hayes is gifting fans an early present today (November 7<sup>th<\/sup>), with the arrival of his <em>Evergreen Christmas Sessions<\/em> EP.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"480\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/static.spin.com\/files\/2025\/11\/XXWsV9AAAAAElFTkSuQmCC.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-647734\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.spin.com\/files\/2025\/11\/XXWsV9AAAAAElFTkSuQmCC.png 480w, https:\/\/static.spin.com\/files\/2025\/11\/XXWsV9AAAAAElFTkSuQmCC-340x340.png 340w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\"><\/figure>\n<p>The four-song project features Hayes\u2019 signature blend of intricate musicianship and heartfelt takes through timeless holiday favorites. Opening with a glistening, jazz-inflected rendition of \u201cWinter Wonderland,\u201d the track flows seamlessly into a tender version of \u201cHave Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.\u201d Hayes then delivers a hushed, soulful \u201cSilent Night\u201d before cutting loose with a bluesy, good-time spin on the holiday classic \u201cRun Run Rudolph.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>More from Spin:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.spin.com\/2025\/11\/2026-grammy-nominees\/\">Kendrick, Lady Gaga Top Grammy Nominee Field<\/a>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.spin.com\/2025\/11\/deep-cut-friday-b-side-wins-again-by-public-enemy\/\">Deep Cut Friday: \u2018B Side Wins Again\u2019 by Public Enemy<\/a>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.spin.com\/2025\/11\/5-albums-i-cant-live-without-steven-kilbey-of-the-church\/\">5 Albums I Can\u2019t Live Without:\u00a0Steven Kilbey of The Church<\/a>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s a calm and peaceful Christmas vibe to the EP, which was intentional,\u201d Hayes tells Spin. \u201cFor me, Christmas music has always been about spending time with family and friends \u2013 the people you love. And I hope this project becomes part of those yearly traditions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Recorded in Los Angeles with his band during a few days off from tour last July,\u00a0<em>Evergreen Christmas Sessions<\/em>\u00a0serves as a companion to Hayes\u2019 larger Evergreen vision \u2013 a side chapter inspired by the same themes of growth, gratitude and connection, reimagined through holiday classics. The project follows the Evergreen songs released earlier this year: \u201cAround the Sun,\u201d \u201cWait,\u00a0 \u201cFragile,\u201d and \u201cEvery Piece.\u201d\u00a0 Known for his electrifying live shows and his ability to make even the quietest moments feel intimate, Hayes approached the sessions with the same spirit he brings to the stage. \u201cThis project felt like a jam session with family,\u201d Hayes says.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1290\" height=\"860\" src=\"https:\/\/static.spin.com\/files\/2025\/11\/Fantasy-of-Lights-Parade-Trolley-Gatlinburg-1290x860.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-647736\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.spin.com\/files\/2025\/11\/Fantasy-of-Lights-Parade-Trolley-Gatlinburg-1290x860.jpg 1290w, https:\/\/static.spin.com\/files\/2025\/11\/Fantasy-of-Lights-Parade-Trolley-Gatlinburg-340x227.jpg 340w, https:\/\/static.spin.com\/files\/2025\/11\/Fantasy-of-Lights-Parade-Trolley-Gatlinburg-240x160.jpg 240w, https:\/\/static.spin.com\/files\/2025\/11\/Fantasy-of-Lights-Parade-Trolley-Gatlinburg-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.spin.com\/files\/2025\/11\/Fantasy-of-Lights-Parade-Trolley-Gatlinburg-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/static.spin.com\/files\/2025\/11\/Fantasy-of-Lights-Parade-Trolley-Gatlinburg-498x332.jpg 498w, https:\/\/static.spin.com\/files\/2025\/11\/Fantasy-of-Lights-Parade-Trolley-Gatlinburg-1668x1112.jpg 1668w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1290px) 100vw, 1290px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo Courtesy of Visit Gatlinburg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>When the award-winning Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade commemorates its 50<sup>th<\/sup> year next month, 80,000 attendees will line the streets of Gatlinburg to witness Hayes lead the celebration. The Smoky Mountain fete is recognized as one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast and will feature 70 to 90 lighted floats, plus marching bands, giant balloons, and of course, Santa Claus himself. The annual festivity will also\u00a0 broadcast nationwide on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day on local television stations in over 40 markets throughout the U.S. and available to stream to over 100 million viewers through a collaborative partnership with Nexstar.<\/p>\n<p>As for his Grand Marshal honor, Hayes \u2013 a Louisiana native \u2013 says, \u201cI have a deep love and appreciation for that whole part of Tennessee. Gatlinburg seems to call to all of us around Christmas, and I have incredibly fond memories of being there during the holidays with my family as a young performer. When I was asked to participate, it felt like the perfect way to celebrate the Evergreen Christmas Sessions release.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1290\" height=\"860\" src=\"https:\/\/static.spin.com\/files\/2025\/11\/Fantasy-of-Lights-Parade-Gatlinburg-2-1290x860.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-647753\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.spin.com\/files\/2025\/11\/Fantasy-of-Lights-Parade-Gatlinburg-2-1290x860.jpg 1290w, https:\/\/static.spin.com\/files\/2025\/11\/Fantasy-of-Lights-Parade-Gatlinburg-2-340x227.jpg 340w, https:\/\/static.spin.com\/files\/2025\/11\/Fantasy-of-Lights-Parade-Gatlinburg-2-240x160.jpg 240w, https:\/\/static.spin.com\/files\/2025\/11\/Fantasy-of-Lights-Parade-Gatlinburg-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.spin.com\/files\/2025\/11\/Fantasy-of-Lights-Parade-Gatlinburg-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/static.spin.com\/files\/2025\/11\/Fantasy-of-Lights-Parade-Gatlinburg-2-498x332.jpg 498w, https:\/\/static.spin.com\/files\/2025\/11\/Fantasy-of-Lights-Parade-Gatlinburg-2-1668x1112.jpg 1668w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1290px) 100vw, 1290px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo Courtesy of Visit Gatlinburg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Now in its 50th year, the Gatlinburg Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade has grown to become one of the nation\u2019s most enchanting holiday traditions. The 2025 Grand Marshal sponsor is Ole Smoky Distillery, a longtime Gatlinburg institution known for its craft moonshine and whiskey.<\/p>\n<p>With Hayes front and center, this year\u2019s celebration promises to be truly unforgettable. The <em>Evergreen Christmas Sessions<\/em> EP, meanwhile, makes for the perfect soundtrack to a December night spent by the fire, with the Christmas tree glowing and the season in full swing.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spin.com\/2021\/07\/the-greatest-rock-stars-of-all-time\/?utm_source=yahoo&amp;utm_medium=bottomlink&amp;utm_campaign=yahoolink\">click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;\" class=\"sharethis-inline-share-buttons\" ><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Photo Courtesy of Hunter Hayes Hunter Hayes is stepping into the 2025 holiday season in a major way.\u00a0The Grammy-nominated, multi-instrumentalist and Platinum-selling artist has spent the past year in his\u00a0Evergreen\u00a0era&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[213],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6531","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-partner"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/musictechohio.online\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6531","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/musictechohio.online\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/musictechohio.online\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/musictechohio.online\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/musictechohio.online\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6531"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/musictechohio.online\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6531\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/musictechohio.online\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6531"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/musictechohio.online\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6531"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/musictechohio.online\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6531"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}