By Erin Duvall
Dolly Parton‘s “Hard Candy Christmas” isn’t your typical holiday tune. The song is from the musical and film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and comes (spoiler alert) at a low point in the story when the brothel has been shut down and everyone is going their separate ways.
It’s that homage to new beginnings that appealed to Cyndi Lauper when recording her upcoming country album in Nashville.
Related: Watch Cyndi Lauper and Kurt Vile Perform Rolling Stones’ “As Tears Go By”
“It’s very hopeful,” Lauper told Rolling Stone Country. “As you look around New York City, there’s a lot of people really not doing that well. I just thought that it was one of those songs that can give you strength. Somehow even if you freakin’ put up a candy cane and one little Christmas light, it can make you feel better. It’s such a wonderful song.”
While a release date hasn’t been set yet for the album, Detour, “Hard Candy Christmas” will be available for download on Dec. 11.
Listen to Lauper’s version below.
