Bono, Carrie Underwood, Michael McDonald guest on Michael W Smith album

CCM STAR Michael W Smith will release his fourth Christmas project on 30th September. 'The Spirit Of Christmas' by Michael W Smith & Friends features guests Bono, Vince Gill, Michael McDonald, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Amy Grant, Carrie Underwood and Jennifer Nettles. Said Smith, "This is the most unique and unusual record I've ever done in my 31-year career. The entire record was sequenced together before we recorded one song. Sonically you're hearing me in a way that you've probably never heard me before. At one point it's like Smitty meets Bublé. There's my granddaughter's voice singing the song from Home Alone plus the whole orchestral and symphonic feeling of Christmas, mixed together with all these amazing voices and guests - yet it all fits together in a remarkable way."

Marking his debut as an album producer, CMA Awards and CMA Country Christmas producer Robert Deaton was inspired by Smith's performance with Jennifer Nettles during the 2013 CMA Country Christmas television program, and suggested to Smith they create a full Christmas recording as co-producers. The two welcomed renowned orchestral maestro David Hamilton as a third co-producer, who arranged and oversaw the London Symphony Orchestra's recordings on the project.

"When we started talking about who could be on this record with him, the list got really narrow really fast," remarked co-producer Robert Deaton. "There's a difference between a singer and an artist, or a celebrity and an artist. While we were fortunate to have these amazing guests on the record, it all feels like a cohesive piece and you never leave the fact that it's a Michael W. Smith record. That was important. That, along with working with co-producer David Hamilton, who is the resident genius, was amazing. This entire process has just been phenomenal."