Reba Wows Concert Crowd With Flawless Cover Of “Hard Candy Christmas”

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Reba McEntire performed “Hard Candy Christmas” at a Kelly Clarkson-hosted event in 2016.

Led by American Idol champ Kelly Clarkson, some of Nashville’s best came together in 2016 for a one-of-a-kind benefit concert, Miracle on Broadway, at Music City’s Bridgestone Arena.

Reba McEntire, Ronnie Dunn, Kelsea Ballerini, RaeLynn, Steve Wariner and Chip Esten were among the stars who participated in the holiday-themed concert to raise funds for four Nashville-area charities. 

One of our favorite performances of the night came from Reba who sang “Hard Candy Christmas.”

The song was made popular by Dolly Parton who sang the tune in the movie The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in 1982. While it does have the word “Christmas” in the title, there is no other lyric in the song that references the holiday! It is simply a song about dreaming for the future in spite of all the struggles you may be going through. 

“Lord it’s like a hard candy Christmas
I’m barely getting through tomorrow
But still I won’t let
Sorrow get me way down.”

Parton’s version reached the Top 10 on the country singles charts in the fall of 1982. “Hard Candy Christmas” has since been covered by a long list of artists, from June Carter Cash to LeAnn Rimes, Kelly Clarkson, and even RuPaul!

RELATED: Kelly Clarkson Sings Dolly Parton’s “Hard Candy Christmas” For Holiday-Themed “Kellyoke”

Reba covered the song for her then-newly released Christmas album, My Kind of Christmas, her first holiday album in 17 years.

While promoting the album, McEntire spoke about “Hard Candy Christmas” and said, “It’s a song Dolly Parton recorded years ago and it’s one of my favorite Christmas songs. It’s really sad, but it’s one of my favorites.”

RELATED: Dolly Parton’s ‘Hard Candy Christmas’ Finds Its Way Onto Reba McEntire’s New Album

The country music legend delivered a rousing performance of the tune, and it’s definitely worth sharing! Check it out below.