When you think of the holidays and the "Voice," your mind probably goes straight to that scene in The Preacher’s Wife where Whitney Houston is leading a choir with enough energy to power all of Newark. It’s a classic image. But here’s the thing—despite being the most decorated female artist of all time, the history of Whitney Houston Christmas albums is actually a lot shorter and more complicated than most people realize.
Most fans assume she has a deep catalog of holiday records. She doesn't. In fact, there is only one official studio holiday album to her name: One Wish: The Holiday Album, released in 2003.
It’s a record that feels like a bit of a time capsule. Released during a period when the media was being particularly brutal toward her, the album often gets overlooked or dismissed as a "contractual obligation." That’s a mistake. If you actually sit down and listen, there’s a lot more going on beneath the surface of those eleven tracks than just a superstar checking off a career box.
The Truth About One Wish: The Holiday Album
Released on November 18, 2003, One Wish: The Holiday Album was Whitney's sixth studio project. It arrived a year after Just Whitney, an album that had received a pretty lukewarm response from critics. By 2003, Whitney's voice was changing. It was huskier, a bit more weathered, and possessed a "lived-in" quality that was worlds away from the glass-shattering clarity of the '80s.
Some critics at the time, like those at Rolling Stone, were pretty harsh about this vocal shift. They missed the old Whitney. But honestly? The "new" Whitney on this album brought a different kind of soul to the table.
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Mervyn Warren, the primary producer on the project, understood this. He didn’t try to force her back into a 1985 mold. Instead, he leaned into contemporary R&B and gospel-inflected arrangements. He even joined her for a stunning a cappella version of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" where he layered his own voice to create a 20-person choir effect. It’s arguably the most technical and impressive moment on the record.
What’s Actually on the Tracklist?
The album is a mix of brand-new recordings and a couple of "recycled" gems. Since Whitney had already done the heavy lifting for The Preacher’s Wife soundtrack in 1996, Arista Records decided to include "Joy to the World" and "Who Would Imagine a King" on the 2003 release.
- The First Noël: A mellow, mid-tempo R&B groove.
- The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire): A standard jazz-pop delivery.
- Little Drummer Boy: This is the heart of the album. It’s a duet with her daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown. You can hear Whitney’s pride in the background, shouting "That’s my baby!" It’s a bit heartbreaking to listen to now, but the joy in that studio was clearly real.
- One Wish (for Christmas): The only single from the album. It’s a cover of a Freddie Jackson song, and it actually did quite well, peaking at number 20 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.
- Cantique de Noël (O Holy Night): She takes this one to church. It starts small and builds into that signature Houston power.
The album also features "Deck the Halls / Silent Night," "I’ll Be Home for Christmas," and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."
Why It Matters Today
For a long time, this was considered a "forgotten" album. It debuted at number 49 on the Billboard 200, which was actually the lowest chart position of any Whitney album released during her lifetime. It was the only one to miss the top 40.
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But time has been kind to One Wish. In 2018, the RIAA certified it Gold, meaning it finally hit that 500,000 copies sold mark in the U.S. alone. Worldwide, it’s moved over two million units.
Why the slow burn? Because Whitney's Christmas music isn't about the spectacle; it's about the intimacy. When you hear her sing "I’ll Be Home for Christmas" with just a keyboard backing her up, you aren't hearing a pop star. You’re hearing a woman who had seen the highest highs and lowest lows, finding a moment of peace in a holiday standard.
The 2021 Deluxe Edition and Pentatonix
In 2021, the estate released a deluxe vinyl edition that added a "new" track: a duet version of "Do You Hear What I Hear?" featuring the a cappella group Pentatonix.
This was a clever bit of studio engineering. They took Whitney’s 1987 recording—which originally appeared on the A Very Special Christmas charity compilation—and mashed it up with new vocals from Pentatonix. It became a posthumous hit, reaching the top of the Adult Contemporary charts and proving that the world still has an insatiable appetite for Whitney’s holiday spirit.
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Fact-Checking Common Misconceptions
There are a few things people get wrong when discussing Whitney Houston Christmas albums. Let’s clear those up.
- "The Preacher's Wife" is NOT a Christmas album. People often mistake this 1996 soundtrack for a holiday record because of the movie's setting. While it's heavily gospel and features "Joy to the World," it's technically a film soundtrack, not a dedicated holiday LP.
- She didn't write "One Wish." Despite being the title track and the song most associated with her holiday era, it’s a cover. Producers Gordon Chambers and Barry Eastmond originally wrote it for Freddie Jackson’s 1994 album.
- The "raspy" voice was a choice (mostly). Critics often blamed drug use or vocal strain for the change in her tone on this album. While those factors likely played a role, Mervyn Warren has noted in interviews that they purposefully sought a "warm, fuzzy" and "mellow" sound for this project.
How to Listen Properly
If you're looking to dive into the world of Whitney Houston Christmas albums, don't just put it on as background music while you're opening gifts.
Start with the a cappella tracks. "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" is where you see the real craft. Then, move to "Who Would Imagine a King." Even though it’s from 1996, it’s arguably one of the greatest vocal performances of her entire career. The way she handles the storytelling in that song is a masterclass in phrasing.
Finally, check out the 2021 deluxe version if you can find the vinyl. The remastering gives the 2003 tracks a bit more "air" and makes the R&B production feel a lot less dated than it does on the original CD.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Listen to the "Preacher's Wife" version of "Joy to the World" first to hear Whitney at her peak gospel power.
- Compare it to the title track "One Wish (For Christmas)" to hear how her voice evolved into a deeper, soul-heavy instrument by 2003.
- Track down the Pentatonix collab "Do You Hear What I Hear?" on streaming services to see how her 1987 vocals still hold up against modern production.
- Add "Who Would Imagine a King" to your permanent holiday rotation. It’s widely considered by vocal coaches and fans alike to be her "hidden" holiday masterpiece.