December 24, 2025 • 8 mins
Check out the magic behind the scenes of the making of "Dionne Warwick and The Voices of Christmas"Enjoying a year of achievements from earning the Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award to having a Top 3 album with "She's Back", the legendary Dionne Warwick will release her latest record, "Dionne Warwick and The Voices of Christmas" this fall.Currently signed with S-Curve/BMG Records, Dionne's holiday album features duets with a wide range of artists, such as the Oak Ridge Boys, Michael McDonald, Dianne Reeves, Boyz II Men's Wayna Morris, sister duo Chloe X Halle, Aloe Blacc and Johnny Mathis."Dionne Warwick and The Voices of Christmas," is produced by Damon Elliott, known for his works with Destiny's Child, Pink and Christina Aguilera. He is also one of Dionne's sons, who worked on both of her "Dionne Sings Dionne" and "She's Back" albums.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning, Dean. How are you doing this morning?
Speaker 2 (00:02):
I'm wonderful, Donald, how are you fantastic?
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Maybe I should start it off with Merry Christmas, Dion.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Sure, and there's too But you've always.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Come across as that person that celebrates Christmas every day.
I always feel it in everything that you share with us.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
I do. I love Christmas. Christmas is my favorite time
of the year. It's a period of time where, you know,
I feel like a broken record because I say it
so often, but it's true. I feel that it's the
human part of people that finally show up, where they
smile at each other and they say hello to you.
(00:40):
I mean, they open doors for you, they carry packages,
you know, they genuinely want to know how you do it.
You know, it's such a wonderful, oneful feeling at that
period of time.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
It's so incredible that you've released this collection of music
right now, because over the weekend people were putting up
on Facebook that they've already started listening to Christmas music.
You have done a great job in making sure that
you're delivering right now.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
All those seems to be kind of most of the
Christmas CDs and events start happening.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Did you get to go into the studio with each
one of the people that you collaborated with because you
are singing with the best of the best on this album.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
I sure did, and what a joy it was. It
was wonderful. It just seems I just said this earlier
that the singing seems to be blessed. Everybody was in
town and available and wanted to do this with me,
and it just happened. It was wonderful.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
I grew up listening to the Oakredge Boys up there
in the state of Montana, and to hear the song
that you have done with the Oakredge Boys, you just
bring it together so peacefully.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Oh we had a ball, let me tell you. Has
been amazing and they sing so beautifully. You know John
Rich who is a dear friend of my son, Damon Elliott,
who produced the CP He basically was responsible for calling
the oakres bus and asking them if they wanted to
(02:13):
be a part of this project, and as it turned out,
they want. The oakred Boys who were on tour, they
came from their tour, they drove into Nashville where we
recorded this and did what they had to do on
the song, which was a joy of watching sea in
the year and then got back on that bus and
went back out on tour. It was one of the
(02:36):
most amazing things in the world, isn't yeah and just
plays mandolin on this. I mean it was like, what's
going on here? It's incredible?
Speaker 1 (02:48):
But isn't that what music is all about. It's always
been about the collaboration and sharing each other's gifts from God?
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Absolutely, I totally agree with that. You know the art
of loving, giving a kid and sharing in something that
I tried to do. I preach that that's my mantra
and she comes to fruition with other people. It's how
do how do you explain it?
Speaker 1 (03:14):
You also recorded with the Peaceful Giant, the Man with
the Big voice, Michael McDonald. Oh my God, to be
in the same space with.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Him, tell me about it. I mean, there's no voice
like anywhere at any given time, and we had the
past need to gig of a lot.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
You get do you get to sit down and swap
stories of what it's been like to be because musicians
are so giving of their heart and soul, and then
when you get together, I mean it's like you get
to be humans again.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Oh yeah, I mean the stories that we share. Some
of them are the most hilarious things that's ever happened
in any guy's life. We've all gone through several different
pass Believe me, What was.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
It like to record with boys to men? Because I
mean we're talking about some guys that also know the
word of harmony as well.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Oh yeah, one they was h I mean, I'm sure
if you listen to it, you just know that this
song was made for him to sing.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
You know what's interesting and listening to voices of Christmas,
it's almost like it was so it's filled with spontaneity
in the way that I kept hitting repeat to listen
to it again and again again. That's not a magic trick.
That is a skill from God, isn't it. Dion?
Speaker 2 (04:32):
I totally agree. You know, when you met a voice
to a song and you know it's the right song
for that voice, that's very special.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
Now, you know, there's got to be a TV show
somewhere in this Is there going to be one? Because
we're going to be begging for it, I certainly hope.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
So if you keep that going, maybe that's the things
you know, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Because I mean there's so much warm here, especially even
when you're singing with Johnny Mathis, I mean you're bringing
the whole entire world into everybody's living room. And the
way that you mix your your voices and everything like that,
it creates the magic of Christmas.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Totally, does you know? And I mean, first of all,
the joy is singing with Johnny Mathis that is not explainable.
I forget it. But's know that he actually what he
wanted to do this with me and gave me Johnny Mathis,
I mean, I'm looking you ask for.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
What what can you ask for? Because I mean one
of the things that I've always been so inspired by
you is that you don't give up, you don't stop.
You just keep creating music because you know that you've
been blessed with the gift and it can't just stay
inside of you exactly. You know.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
And as soon as I'm dealing with the gift that
I have what was intended to be done this, how
long I'll be doing it.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Plus you've you've never been afraid to say that, Hey,
God gave me this gift. I'm willing to talk about
God anytime I want to.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
You got that right, and see, and that's.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
The spirit that you continue to share with the world,
and I love your courage to be able to say, hey,
look this is who I am. Let's grow forward together
as a happy family.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
I think that's what people are actually expecting, though, you know,
when that can't be anybody but who I am, and
that is given that as a mantra to my mentors,
you know, you be who you are because you cannot
be anyone else. And I truly do need that.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
You know, has your son introduced you to podcasting or
anything like that, because I would love to sit back
and listen to your stories, your inspiration, your empowerment, and
just so that you can inspire new musicians as well
as other writers to grow forward.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Well. You know, I think what I'm doing basically is
is is what is firing. I hope to the answers
and who are coming up musically and for those who
just want to listen. You know, I think sharing a
gift is really the key.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
That's so interesting you say that because in listening to
the voices of Christmas, there were moments there that I
felt like I was meditating while listening. I mean, it
has that kind of energy about it.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Oh wonderful. That's a good thing. That's the intent to
make you relaxing and joy.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Well, that's that's what the Christmas season is about. Now,
what usually happens people hit the road to do their
Christmas music. Are you going to go on on a
small little tour?
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Yes, I am. Oh, that's really me saying it, and
I'm going to try to get as many as I
do at partners out there with me.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
You always make music so exciting, and this year you're
making you know, the holidays exciting. To Dion, I can't
thank you enough for seeing yes to all of your
gifts that God has given you.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Oh, thank you, Dom and I appreciate that. I really do. You.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
Please come back to this show anytime in the future.
The door is always going to be open for you.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
You got it.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
I'll be there, Okay, be brilliant today.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Thank you. You do the same
Good morning, Dean. How are you doing this morning?
Speaker 2 (00:02):
I'm wonderful, Donald, how are you fantastic?
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Maybe I should start it off with Merry Christmas, Dion.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Sure, and there's too But you've always.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Come across as that person that celebrates Christmas every day.
I always feel it in everything that you share with us.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
I do. I love Christmas. Christmas is my favorite time
of the year. It's a period of time where, you know,
I feel like a broken record because I say it
so often, but it's true. I feel that it's the
human part of people that finally show up, where they
smile at each other and they say hello to you.
(00:40):
I mean, they open doors for you, they carry packages,
you know, they genuinely want to know how you do it.
You know, it's such a wonderful, oneful feeling at that
period of time.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
It's so incredible that you've released this collection of music
right now, because over the weekend people were putting up
on Facebook that they've already started listening to Christmas music.
You have done a great job in making sure that
you're delivering right now.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
All those seems to be kind of most of the
Christmas CDs and events start happening.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Did you get to go into the studio with each
one of the people that you collaborated with because you
are singing with the best of the best on this album.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
I sure did, and what a joy it was. It
was wonderful. It just seems I just said this earlier
that the singing seems to be blessed. Everybody was in
town and available and wanted to do this with me,
and it just happened. It was wonderful.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
I grew up listening to the Oakredge Boys up there
in the state of Montana, and to hear the song
that you have done with the Oakredge Boys, you just
bring it together so peacefully.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Oh we had a ball, let me tell you. Has
been amazing and they sing so beautifully. You know John
Rich who is a dear friend of my son, Damon Elliott,
who produced the CP He basically was responsible for calling
the oakres bus and asking them if they wanted to
(02:13):
be a part of this project, and as it turned out,
they want. The oakred Boys who were on tour, they
came from their tour, they drove into Nashville where we
recorded this and did what they had to do on
the song, which was a joy of watching sea in
the year and then got back on that bus and
went back out on tour. It was one of the
(02:36):
most amazing things in the world, isn't yeah and just
plays mandolin on this. I mean it was like, what's
going on here? It's incredible?
Speaker 1 (02:48):
But isn't that what music is all about. It's always
been about the collaboration and sharing each other's gifts from God?
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Absolutely, I totally agree with that. You know the art
of loving, giving a kid and sharing in something that
I tried to do. I preach that that's my mantra
and she comes to fruition with other people. It's how
do how do you explain it?
Speaker 1 (03:14):
You also recorded with the Peaceful Giant, the Man with
the Big voice, Michael McDonald. Oh my God, to be
in the same space with.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Him, tell me about it. I mean, there's no voice
like anywhere at any given time, and we had the
past need to gig of a lot.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
You get do you get to sit down and swap
stories of what it's been like to be because musicians
are so giving of their heart and soul, and then
when you get together, I mean it's like you get
to be humans again.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Oh yeah, I mean the stories that we share. Some
of them are the most hilarious things that's ever happened
in any guy's life. We've all gone through several different
pass Believe me, What was.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
It like to record with boys to men? Because I
mean we're talking about some guys that also know the
word of harmony as well.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Oh yeah, one they was h I mean, I'm sure
if you listen to it, you just know that this
song was made for him to sing.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
You know what's interesting and listening to voices of Christmas,
it's almost like it was so it's filled with spontaneity
in the way that I kept hitting repeat to listen
to it again and again again. That's not a magic trick.
That is a skill from God, isn't it. Dion?
Speaker 2 (04:32):
I totally agree. You know, when you met a voice
to a song and you know it's the right song
for that voice, that's very special.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
Now, you know, there's got to be a TV show
somewhere in this Is there going to be one? Because
we're going to be begging for it, I certainly hope.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
So if you keep that going, maybe that's the things
you know, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Because I mean there's so much warm here, especially even
when you're singing with Johnny Mathis, I mean you're bringing
the whole entire world into everybody's living room. And the
way that you mix your your voices and everything like that,
it creates the magic of Christmas.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Totally, does you know? And I mean, first of all,
the joy is singing with Johnny Mathis that is not explainable.
I forget it. But's know that he actually what he
wanted to do this with me and gave me Johnny Mathis,
I mean, I'm looking you ask for.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
What what can you ask for? Because I mean one
of the things that I've always been so inspired by
you is that you don't give up, you don't stop.
You just keep creating music because you know that you've
been blessed with the gift and it can't just stay
inside of you exactly. You know.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
And as soon as I'm dealing with the gift that
I have what was intended to be done this, how
long I'll be doing it.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Plus you've you've never been afraid to say that, Hey,
God gave me this gift. I'm willing to talk about
God anytime I want to.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
You got that right, and see, and that's.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
The spirit that you continue to share with the world,
and I love your courage to be able to say, hey,
look this is who I am. Let's grow forward together
as a happy family.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
I think that's what people are actually expecting, though, you know,
when that can't be anybody but who I am, and
that is given that as a mantra to my mentors,
you know, you be who you are because you cannot
be anyone else. And I truly do need that.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
You know, has your son introduced you to podcasting or
anything like that, because I would love to sit back
and listen to your stories, your inspiration, your empowerment, and
just so that you can inspire new musicians as well
as other writers to grow forward.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Well. You know, I think what I'm doing basically is
is is what is firing. I hope to the answers
and who are coming up musically and for those who
just want to listen. You know, I think sharing a
gift is really the key.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
That's so interesting you say that because in listening to
the voices of Christmas, there were moments there that I
felt like I was meditating while listening. I mean, it
has that kind of energy about it.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Oh wonderful. That's a good thing. That's the intent to
make you relaxing and joy.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Well, that's that's what the Christmas season is about. Now,
what usually happens people hit the road to do their
Christmas music. Are you going to go on on a
small little tour?
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Yes, I am. Oh, that's really me saying it, and
I'm going to try to get as many as I
do at partners out there with me.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
You always make music so exciting, and this year you're
making you know, the holidays exciting. To Dion, I can't
thank you enough for seeing yes to all of your
gifts that God has given you.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Oh, thank you, Dom and I appreciate that. I really do. You.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
Please come back to this show anytime in the future.
The door is always going to be open for you.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
You got it.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
I'll be there, Okay, be brilliant today.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Thank you. You do the same
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