New Cracker Barrel Exclusive Music Spreads Holiday Cheer

LEBANON, Tenn., Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- As you start thinking about holiday entertainment and stocking stuffers, you may want to consider some new music that provides all the authentic sounds of the  holiday traditions so many of us cherish. The newest CD in Cracker Barrel Old Country Store's exclusive music program is Winter Wonderland, the holiday album by acclaimed vocalist Mandy Barnett. In addition to the title track, holiday standards such as "Jingle Bell Rock," "A Holly Jolly Christmas," "Marshmallow World," "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and "White Christmas" are all included in this wonderful collection of holiday songs. Mandy has recaptured the Golden Era with the song choices and production on this album, along with a musical cast of veterans such as Harold Bradley, Lloyd Green, Louis Nunley, Gene Chrisman and Tony Migliore, who lent their talents to render an instant classic. You may care to know that guitarist Harold Bradley and back-up singer Louis Nunley appear on the original versions of several of these songs, including "Jingle Bell Rock"!  This album is now available, but only at Cracker Barrel.

"I wanted this album to be a classic and to remind people of the simpler times they had when they were children," said Mandy, in talking about how she approached recording this CD. "It was important to record these songs in an authentic fashion so people would connect with them emotionally," she added.

Mandy Barnett became well-known as a teenager when she starred as country music legend Patsy Cline in the stage show "Always...Patsy Cline" at the celebrated Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. The performances were sold out nightly and received impressive reviews across the country. Mandy went on to record various albums, including one with legendary producer Owen Bradley. She is an active performer nationally and internationally, and is a frequent guest on the Grand Ole Opry.

Mandy is also a frequent guest at Cracker Barrel. "I am hooked on Uncle Herschel's Favorite," she says, referring to Cracker Barrel's signature breakfast offering. She also likes to order the Country Fried Chicken country dinner plate and macaroni n' cheese, which she calls real comfort food.

"Mandy has a strong, resonant voice that warms your heart as soon as you hear it," says Cracker Barrel's Vice President of Marketing Peter Keiser. "Cracker Barrel is very pleased to provide this high quality, pleasing CD for our guests' holiday entertainment and gift-giving."

Cracker Barrel's exclusive music program features numerous projects. In September of this year, Cracker Barrel released the self-titled Rodney Atkins, which includes four #1 hits. In July, the company released Craig Morgan's That's Why - Collector's Edition, and in May the release of Wynonna's Love Heals debuted at #7 on the Billboard Magazine Top Country Albums chart. February's release of Dailey & Vincent Sing the Statler Brothers debuted at #1 on Billboard's Top Bluegrass Albums chart, where it spent nine weeks in the top position and 18 weeks overall in one of the three top positions since its release on February 1st.  Releases in 2009 included November's Songs of Love and Heartache by Alan Jackson, September's release of an exclusive new version of The Foundation by the Zac Brown Band, August's George Jones' release of A Collection Of My Best Recollection, May's release of Montgomery Gentry's For Our Heroes, which debuted at #5 on Billboard Magazine's Top Country Albums chart, and March's release of Dolly Parton's Collector's Edition of Backwoods Barbie, which debuted at #9 on that chart. Over the last few years, Cracker Barrel has released exclusive CDs with Bill Gaither, Kenny Rogers, Ricky Skaggs, Aaron Tippin, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Josh Turner, Amy Grant, Sara Evans, and Charlie Daniels.

About Cracker Barrel

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store provides a friendly home-away-from-home in its old country stores and restaurants.  Guests are cared for like family while relaxing and enjoying real home-style food and shopping that's surprisingly unique, genuinely fun and reminiscent of America's country heritage...all at a fair price. The restaurant serves up delicious, home-style country food such as meatloaf and homemade chicken n' dumplins as well as its signature biscuits using an old family recipe. The authentic old country retail store is fun to shop and offers unique gifts and self-indulgences.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBRL) was established in 1969 in Lebanon, Tenn. and operates 595 company-owned locations in 41 states.  Every Cracker Barrel unit is open seven days a week with hours Sunday through Thursday, 6 a.m. - 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 6 a.m. - 11 p.m.  For more information, visit crackerbarrel.com.

SOURCE Cracker Barrel