Only a musical personality as charismatic as honky-tonk hero George Strait could sell a song that hangs its hat on a pun on his own name. The rousing 1986 cosmopolitan-country anthem “Merry Christmas Strait to You” is a highlight in the Texas singer’s extensive catalogue of Nashville-burnished carols and seasonal songs, which includes the double-platinum album of the same name. Strait released more festive collections in the wake of the LP’s success, such as Merry Christmas Wherever You Are, featuring freshly composed and wistful tunes (“I Know What I Want for Christmas”, “Old Time Christmas” and more).