Steven Curtis Chapman will be releasing his next album on 16 October.

Joy features seven new Christmas songs from Chapman. The other six songs in the collection are his take on Christmas classics like “Joy to the World” and “Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!”.

Original tracks from Chapman include “Christmas in Kentucky”, a song inspired by his home state, and “Christmas Kiss”, which was written for his wife, Mary Beth.

It’s Chapman’s first Christmas album since he did “All I Really Want for Christmas” in 2005.

He shares: "Many know that the last few years have been a difficult journey for my family and me following the loss of our daughter Maria.

"So many have prayed for us and encouraged us and, having the opportunity to write, record and share this new music really feels like the beginning of a new season ... a season of joy."

"Even as hard as things have been, it's like the sweet is starting to outweigh the bitter for us more and more.

"Christmas is becoming a less hard thing for us each year. It's not that it's easier to get through because we are forgetting. It's like we can remember now without it just being so painful and the memories can be sweet."