Beloved singer and Judy Garland impersonator Debbie Wileman is ringing in the holiday season with A Christmas Garland. This sparkling new album imagines the Christmas record Judy herself never got to make. Mixing nostalgia, warmth, and Wileman’s uncanny embodiment of Garland’s voice and heart, the album blends classic and contemporary Christmas songs with glamorous orchestral arrangements; all delivered through the unmistakable lens of one of Hollywood’s most enduring icons.
“It’s always been surprising, and a little disappointing, that Judy never recorded a full Christmas album,” says Wileman. “Creating this record was my chance to imagine what it might have sounded like, and to bring Judy’s magic to some of the more modern Christmas favorites she never had the chance to sing.”
Produced by Scott Stander with orchestrations by Steve Orich (the arranger behind Broadway’s Jersey Boys album) A Christmas Garland offers a joyful and poignant mix of songs, from timeless standards like “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” to modern classics like Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and Wham!’s “Last Christmas,” reimagined through Garland’s style.
One of the album’s finale numbers, “We Need a Little Medley,” channels Judy’s spirit of hope and resilience. “Many of us are going through troubling times,” Wileman reflects. “Music can be so healing and helpful in bringing joy and cheer, which is what we all want at Christmas.”
The album also includes a touching duet of “Little Drummer Boy – Peace on Earth” with rock and roll icon Pat Boone and Judy’s definitive holiday staple, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” performed with Oscar-winning actress Margaret O’Brien, who originally sang the song with Garland in Meet Me in St. Louis. “Having Margaret on this album is such a thrill,” says Wileman. “She’s a true Hollywood legend and a lovely lady to boot.”
Another highlight is “After the Holidays,” a poignant song written by John Meyer for Judy Garland that she performed on The Tonight Show but was never officially recorded — until now. Wileman, who befriended Meyer before his passing, also includes another of his rarely heard works, “When Do the Words Come True,” on the album. “John told me he wrote it on the day of Judy’s funeral,” she shares. “He said it was everything he thought she felt. Recording it was my way of honoring him and Judy both.”
With orchestral arrangements that shimmer with nostalgia and a voice that captures Judy Garland’s heart and humanity, A Christmas Garland is a heartfelt gift of comfort and joy for longtime fans and new listeners alike. To celebrate the album’s release, Debbie Wileman will embark on her multi-city We Need a Little Christmas Tour this December. Produced by Scott Stander, each stop promises an enchanting evening of storytelling, humor, and Garland magic. “Every show will be a little different,” Wileman says. “I love chatting with people, sharing tidbits, having a laugh, and, of course, singing my guts out!”
Debbie Wileman’s A Christmas Garland became available on all major streaming platforms on November 17.