Eagles To Drop Final Philly Christmas Album: Jason Kelce Returns
Jason Kelce is keeping the Philadelphia Eagles’ quirky tradition of dropping an annual Christmas album alive, and this year’s release is set to be the grand finale. Announced recently, “A Philly Special Christmas Party” will be the final installment in this beloved series.
The 12-track album will showcase three brand-new songs. Once again, former Eagles center Jason Kelce is joining forces with offensive linemen Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson. Expect some extra magic with guest appearances from Philadelphia’s own Boyz II Men and Travis Kelce.
On the debut single, “It’s Christmas Time (In Cleveland Heights),” the Kelce brothers are joined by Boyz II Men. While other artist collaborations remain under wraps, reportedly Taylor Swift won’t be on this album.
In 2022, Jason Kelce wrote a Christmas song that appeared on the album. In an interview with the NFL Network’s Peter Schrager, Connor Barwin explained how Jason Kelce went about writing a song. Barwin explained how Jason came up with the idea for a song about Santa Claus but also equated it to being a football player and a parent.
Mark your calendars for Black Friday, November 29, when the album will hit all digital platforms. For those who prefer something more tangible, it will also be available in a limited edition white vinyl format, which you can pre-order starting November 1st from The Philly Specials’ official website.
When the album’s release was announced on Instagram, fans went wild in the comments. One person wrote, “So hyped!!!! Next up… concert? [eyes emoji],” while another shared, “We bought a record player only to play the first 2 albums and we only use it at Christmas time [laughing emoji] my son asked to use it in July and we’re like ehh not yet lol.” Someone else jokingly wrote, “Oh man there goes my holiday budget…”
The first two albums raised over $4 million for children’s charities, and this year, they’re aiming to double that amount. Last year, ABC 6 reported that “A Philly Special Christmas Special” brought in over $2.5 million for charity. The funds benefited local organizations like the Children’s Crisis Treatment Center and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
According to the Philly Special Christmas website, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is the nation’s first hospital devoted exclusively to the care of children. Since its start in 1855, CHOP has been the birthplace of several breakthroughs and dramatic firsts in pediatric medicine.
The Children’s Crisis Treatment Center (CCTC) is a private non-profit agency that specializes in delivering behavioral health services to Philadelphia’s children and their families.
Take a look at the behind-the-scenes mini-film that is out on their YouTube channel now.
