Lady A’s Hillary Scott and her 11-year-old daughter Eisele Kaye talk about writing their Christmas song “Hard to Wait for Christmas,” their favorite family Christmas traditions, most memorable Christmas gifts Hillary got as a kid, favorite Christmas cookies and more!

Eisele Kaye   

Can we sing a little bit of “Hard to Wait for Christmas” together for Billboard? 

Hillary Scott  

Do you want to do it?

Eisele Kaye    

Sure. 

Hillary Scott   

Do we want dad to help? 

Eisele Kaye  

Yeah, what’s your favorite part of writing “Hard to Wait for Christmas” together?

Hillary Scott  

I think my favorite part of writing the song with you was just getting to talk about all of the things that are “Hard to Wait for Christmas” for, and then also getting to talk about the real meaning of Christmas — Jesus, the birth of Jesus. 

Eisele Kaye  

How is recording with me different from recording with your bandmates?

Hillary Scott   

Well, it was really fun because I got to experience it with you for the first time. So it felt new again, which is really exciting. And I got to just stand by and be a proud mom, watching you be so comfortable and sing so beautifully in that environment. So it was definitely different, because, I mean, I’m proud of [Lady A bandmates] Charles [Kelley] and Dave [Haywood] but, like, really proud of you, because you’re my girl. 

Eisele Kaye    

What was your favorite moment of making this song with me?

Hillary Scott  

My favorite moment of making this song with you, I think it was the studio. Do you remember what happened? 

Eisele Kaye  

Oh yes.  

Hillary Scott  

At the very beginning, 

Eisele Kaye  

Yes, the lights went out.

Hillary Scott  

The power went out. 

Eisele Kaye   

The power went out 

Hillary Scott   

to the entire studio. And then what happened again, when we went to do the photo shoot? 

Eisele Kaye  

The lights went out.

Hillary Scott   

The power went out. Those were two things that happened that we just thought, you know what? I think we’re gonna take this as a good-luck charm, that if the power goes out, we’re on to something good.

Watch the full interview above!