For many, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year; but this season of celebration also has the power to serve up a lot of mixed emotions. For TobyMac, the impending holiday brings with it bittersweet memories of his son, Truett, who tragically passed away in 2019. So, for the McKeehan patriarch and his family, Christmas just hits different this year. That sentiment is what led the “Faithfully” singer to write his new holiday song.
For “Christmas Hits Different,” Toby enlisted longtime friend and former tourmate Tasha Layton to help him communicate the relatable meaning conveyed across the vulnerable pop track.
The lyrics speak for themselves as Toby dedicates the fresh original to “broken souls,” like himself, who are missing a loved one this December: “If Christmas hits different this year, you don’t have to smile. I know how you feel, if Christmas hits different this year. I’ll be right here.” Afterwards, he beautifully intertwines the heartfelt cry of a classic as he leans into the refrain of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”
“When Toby asked me to be part of this song, it was an immediate ‘yes.’ I love the message and heart behind these lyrics,” Layton shares of the chance to collaborate with the respected hitmaker. “Christmastime can be such a joyful time of the year for so many, and yet, heartbreaking for others. I’ve watched Toby choose to follow Christ in the middle of his pain time and time again. Pain and heartache don’t discriminate, but we can rest in the truth that God is close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34). For everyone who is navigating through a ‘different’ Christmas this year, my prayer is that this song reminds them of the hope we have in Emmanuel, God with us.”
“Christmas Hits Different” marks TobyMac’s first seasonal offering since 2017’s “Light of Christmas” LP.
The three-time K-LOVE Fan Award winner recently wrapped a historic 12-city run with MercyMe and special guest Zach Williams. He’ll kick off another year of “Hits Deep” in January 2024 with friends Cory Asbury, Mac Powell, Layton, Jon Reddick and Terrian. Additionally, as was recently announced, TobyMac will headline the inaugural “K-LOVE Live in Honolulu” event, slated for next June at the iconic Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell in Hawaii.
