About the Song
From his very first Christmas album, Merry Christmas Strait to You!—released on September 8, 1986—George Strait gave fans a holiday collection that felt as familiar and comforting as an old quilt on a cold December night. And nestled among its tracks is one of the most emotionally resonant: “What A Merry Christmas This Could Be.”
Unlike the jingle-filled romps of the season, this song leans into something gentler, more intimate. George doesn’t just sing about tinsel and sleigh bells—he sings about longing, about hope, and about what Christmas could mean if only that one special person came home.
With a slow, steel-drenched melody and George’s signature understated delivery, this track is a quiet ache dressed in wrapping paper. It captures that familiar feeling: when the lights are hung and the music plays, but someone’s absence leaves the room just a little too still.
“What A Merry Christmas This Could Be” isn’t flashy or loud—it’s reflective, sincere, and classic George Strait. It reminds us that the holidays aren’t just about what we have, but who we have—and sometimes, who we’re still waiting on.
For longtime fans, it’s one of those songs you don’t forget. You hear it once and it becomes part of the season—a bittersweet carol for those who’ve loved deeply and missed someone just as deeply.
So this Christmas, if your heart needs a little comfort with its cheer, let George Strait sing you through it. Because truly, what a merry Christmas this could be—if love found its way back home.