Graphic created by Lucas Seidel Design

Gather 'round the open fire for Chimneyside Chats - a monthly feature with holiday stories from our favorite artists. See what's in their stockings this year as they reminisce on Christmas memories, share their favorite recipe and more! Here's what country artist Jessica Lynn had to say: 

Last year, right around Christmastime, I was really missing my little sister who I have not seen in several years. I was sitting in bed one night and got this urge to pick up my acoustic guitar and “It’s Just Not Christmas” pretty much wrote itself.

I really do feel like the best songs take no effort or coercing on the part of the writer. They seem to just flow out of your heart so naturally; like the story is telling itself. It almost seems as if the pen just guided my hand along the page, writing my innermost thoughts and feelings down, which would later be shared with the world, which can be scary at times.

I felt so connected to this piece since it was so personal to me, but at this time, so close to Christmas, it was too late into the holiday season to release the song. I anxiously awaited Christmas 2020 to put it out. Little did I know that only a few months later the globe would be hit with a pandemic unlike anything we have ever seen that would make the lyrics and emotion in my song just so much more relevant. It was purely coincidence how applicable the topic of missing someone would become around the holidays. Due to COVID-19, there are so many families not able to be together or that have lost someone close to them because of the virus.

On release day, I was flooded with messages on social media of how the song reminded fans of their husbands or wives who have passed away; their parents, their pets, their friends they haven’t seen in so long. It was so beautiful for me to experience how much this song could mean to so many. It made it that much more meaningful to me as well.

My favorite part of making music is seeing how it is truly a universal language and how people of all different kinds and places can connect through it. “It’s Just Not Christmas” has to be one of my favorite releases I have done up to this point because of the special impact I have seen it make so far. I do feel, however, that although the holidays can be a difficult time for so many, especially this year, that the magic of Christmas and this season is not just manifested in physical form. Christmastime is about light, love, memories, traditions and the feelings inside; such as the excitement of waiting for Santa Claus to come as a small child, that we can carry with us forever. Those we love and have lost, or miss dearly, are never really far away. They will always be with us, even if it’s just in spirit.