Two founding members of Alabama, Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry, have joined forces with country singer Chris Janson to remake a classic hit. A new version of Alabama’s “Christmas in Dixie” was released on Nov. 22, along with an accompanying video.

Janson takes center stage in the video, handling lead vocals for the remake. Owen and Gentry are prominently featured in the holiday ballad, however, singing harmonies and chiming in for the chorus. (See the new “Christmas in Dixie” video below.)

“Christmas in Dixie,” a signature song for Alabama, originally was released as a single in 1982. It was included on the country group’s first holiday album, “Alabama Christmas,” in 1985, and remains a cherished fan favorite.

“I’ve always loved this song, and I’m really proud of the cut,” Janson said via social media. “Randy and Teddy really brought it over the finish line. They’re the best, and this will always be one of my favorite records of my life.”

Janson, 38, has five studio albums to his credit, released 2015-2023. He’s known for singles such as “Buy Me a Boat,” “Fix a Drink,” “Good Vibes,” “Done,” “Drunk Girl” and “All I Need Is You.” Janson has collaborated with other country artists, such as Lee Brice and Alabama native Holly Williams. He also has writing credits on songs recorded by Tim McGraw (”Truck Yeah”), LoCash (”I Love This Life”) and more.

Janson’s collaboration with Owen, 74, and Gentry, 72, isn’t the first cover of “Christmas in Dixie” to hit the airwaves. The song was covered by Kenny Chesney in 2003 (with Owen as a featured artist) and by Home Free in 2020 (with a vocal assist from Owen and the Alabama band listed as the featured artist).

Jason Aldean, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Easton Corbin and Chapel Hart have recorded their own versions of “Christmas in Dixie,” as well.

Alabama, formed in 1969 in Fort Payne, has a long and distinguished history in country music. Owen, the lead singer, founded the band as Wildcountry with his cousin, bassist Gentry. They recruited another cousin, guitarist and fiddler Jeff Cook, to join them, and he remained a key part of Alabama for more than five decades. (Cook died in 2022 after a battle with Parkinson’s disease.)

READ: Alabama’s Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry talk June Jam, Jeff Cook, classic hits

The band changed its name to Alabama in 1977 and became one of the most successful groups in country music, crossing over onto the pop charts and peaking in the 1980s with multiplatinum albums and a slew of radio hits. These included “Tennessee River,” “Mountain Music,” “Dixieland Delight,” “The Closer You Get,” “Song of the South,” “Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler)” and many more.

READ: Alabama: 10 awesome songs by the state’s beloved country band

The band continued to record and perform regularly until the early 2000s, playing to a devoted fan base. Alabama traveled on a high-profile farewell tour in 2003-2004, but returned to the stage several times over the years. One of the most notable shows was the 2011 Bama Rising benefit concert at the BJCC Arena in Birmingham. Alabama headlined the star-studded event, raising about $2.2 million for tornado relief in its home state.

Alabama reunited for a “Back to the Bowery” tour in 2013 and released a new album, “Southern Drawl,” in 2015. “American Christmas” — a holiday album that included an unplugged rendition of “Christmas in Dixie” — was released by the band in 2017.

Alabama is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Alabama was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum in Nashville in October 2019. The band also received the hall’s first Lifetime Achievement Award.

In October 2024, Owen was named a BMI Icon by Broadcast Music Inc., a nationwide performing rights organization. He and Gentry continue to tour as Alabama. They have three shows scheduled in December, plus a date in summer 2025 at the York State Fair in Pennsylvania.