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If the big meal is the star of your Thanksgiving festivities, then a good Thanksgiving playlist is the equivalent of a supporting character—meaning it's an accoutrement, yet equally important component of the day. That's because the right mix of songs not only creates the perfect ambiance but also helps you deal with all the stress of Turkey Day. Whether you'll be spending hours mixing delicious drinks, whipping up perfectly golden pumpkin pies, or decorating your space with wreaths, leaves, and other rustic touches, a good playlist can help make the day go by a whole lot smoother.
We know you probably already have a lot on your plate—which is exactly why we've compiled a list of the best Thanksgiving songs. Some are specifically about Thanksgiving (think: Graham Parker's "Almost Thanksgiving Day" or Bing Crosby's "I've Got Plenty to Be Thankful For"), while others riff on individual elements of the holiday. That includes traveling back home (think: Phillip Phillips's "Home"), spending quality time with family (like Sister Sledge's "We Are Family"), sharing everything you're grateful for (do not miss: Chance the Rapper's "Blessings" or Kelly Clarkson's "Thankful"), and, of course, all the yummy food (such as Kacey Musgraves's "Biscuits"). Not to mention that our go-to music includes traditional tunes as well as original songs from a wide variety of genres—ranging from pop, hip-hop, and rock, to country, , and even reggae—so there's guaranteed to be something for everyone around your table.
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1
“Ode to My Family,” by the Cranberries
Get transported right back to a simpler time, a.k.a. the '90s, with the help of Cranberries’ lead singer Dolores O’Riordan, as she coos with lyrics dedicated to her mother and father. Whatever you “do, do, do, do” this year, remember to thank those who raised you.
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2
“Thankful,” by Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson—Voice coach, professional chitchatter, powerhouse pop diva—may be thankful for the blessings and the lessons she’s learned, as she belts out her soulful contribution to this list, but really her 2003 ditty just makes us thankful for the “repeat” button.
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3
"Thanksgiving Song," by Mary Chapin Carpenter
Though part of her Christmas album, Mary Chapin Carpenter's soft, sweeping ballad "Thanksgiving Song" captures the beauty and importance of the holiday succinctly. "Father, mother, daughter, son, / Neighbor, friend and friendless / All together everyone in the gift of loving-kindness," she sweetly sings over delicate guitar strums.
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4
“Autumn in New York,” by Billie Holiday
Fall is arguably the Big Apple’s best time of year—and unarguably the very best season Billie Holiday has loaned her ethereal vocals to. Only Billie Holiday can make us actually wish we were caught on a bustling street under a swelling sky threatening a downpour: “Glittering crowds and shimmering clouds,” she sings.
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5
“Thankful,” by Céline Dion
If one thing is clear from our roundup of Thanksgiving songs, it’s that the music industry’s top performers are incredibly thankful for the blessings in their lives and have felt compelled to sing about them. For Queen Céline, her greetings of gratitude come courtesy of this divine ballad featuring a gospel choir.
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6
“Friday, I’m in Love,” by the Cure
One of the best parts of Thanksgiving is actually the day after Thanksgiving. Hello, Black Friday shopping. And to us, there is no better anthem for raking in the holiday deals than the Cure’s totally gleeful 1992 pop track, “Friday, I’m in Love.”
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7
“The Thanksgiving Song,” by Adam Sandler
The Sand Man manages to work superstars Dolemite, Darryl Strawberry, and Cheryl Tiegs into a self-written tune that celebrates all of Thanksgiving’s most valuable players—you have turkey, sweet potato pie, and the post-feast nap, of course. Now that’s something to be thankful for.
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8
“I Could Not Ask for More,” by Sara Evans
When you’re sitting 'round a table topped with a home-cooked soul-food feast, every seat filled with a smiling face, just let the words of Sara Evans’s 2000 hit, “I Could Not Ask for More,” wash over you. These are the moments you will remember for the rest of your life. Corny, but true.
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9
“Thanksgiving Prayer,” by Johnny Cash
When disagreement is on the dinner menu for this year’s holiday (and it might be), just turn to the man in black for a compass back to what really matters. In “Thanksgiving Prayer,” the country music crooner recites a poem, offering love and thanks, with his trademark sound. And it’s exactly what the world needs right now.
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10
“Thursday,” by The Weeknd
We get the feeling Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, a.k.a. The Weeknd, will do whatever he wants on any day he chooses, but we’re still grateful that he dedicated an entire sultry song to the most important day in November, which is of course Thanksgiving Thursday.
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11
“Thank God for Hometowns,” by Carrie Underwood
Doesn’t matter if you moved to an opposite coast or never even left your old stomping grounds, Carrie Underwood’s relatable crossover hit will make you yearn for those old “church pews and faces that won’t forget you.” Luckily, Thanksgiving at home is just around the corner.
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12
“I’ve Got Plenty to Be Thankful For,” by Bing Crosby
Not that it was his intention, but no holiday is complete without Bing. Christmas is set with a slew of holiday fare: “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” serving as the icing on the fruitcake. Easter gets Crosby love with “Easter Parade.” Halloween has “The Halloween Song.” And Thanksgiving gets its due with “I’ve Got Plenty to Be Thankful For.” We could go on.
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13
“Macy’s Day Parade,” by Green Day
A subdued departure from the Green Day of Dookie punk rock yore, “Macy’s Day Parade” is a single off the band’s Warning album from 2000. It features the distinct sound of front man Billie Joe Armstrong as he pines for a “brand-new hope” in a song named for the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
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14
“The Story” by Brandi Carlile
As it is so eloquently translated by Brandi Carlile, each of our stories is written on our faces: in every crease, wrinkle, and smile. Thanksgiving is one of the few times when several generations come together to give thanks, so play this alt-rock country hit as loud as you can as you sway along with baby, Mom, and Grandma.
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15
“Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town,” by Pearl Jam
Remember that time Mom forgot the cranberry sauce and you had to hightail it to the only shop on the corner that was open? This is a song dedicated to the friendly face who was there to welcome you on your errand. Or at least, that’s how we imagine the inspiration behind Pearl Jam’s 1993 track.
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16
“Thank U,” by Alanis Morissette
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to rattle off all the things you are thankful for, right? Well, that’s just what the emotive singer-songwriter does in her 1998 single, “Thank U.” Alanis Morissette thanks India, terror, disillusionment, frailty, consequence, and silence. And we thank her for just being her.
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17
“In the Mall,” by Weezer
Perhaps more well-known and compelling tracks from the band who made black-rimmed glasses and sweaters the basics in a rocker’s starter pack would be “Buddy Holly” and “Say It Ain’t So.” But might we recommend their fall-centric “In the Mall” for your Thanksgiving playlist. You will need day-after Black Friday tunes, after all.
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18
“Family Table,” by Zac Brown Band
We like to think that the Zac Brown Band’s ode to the table that serves as the cornerstone of the home extends to the very place we eat supper with our family: i.e., on the couch from behind a trusty TV tray. Home is where the heart is, and the table is wherever the food is. Simple as that.
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19
“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,” by George Winston
When it comes to the comforting sounds of “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,” there are no words. No, really. There are no lyrics, just the solo piano instrumental from George Winston in a dedication to the signature jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi. Cue the nostalgic pull on the heartstrings.
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20
“Blessings,” by Big Sean featuring Drake, Kanye West
Detroit rapper Big Sean lets the blessings flow in his spiritual rhyme, sharing the mic with two of the boldest names in music: Drake and Kanye. There’s no battle here though; each mogul takes turns spitting his own humbling lyrics. “I’m way up, I feel blessed / Way up I feel blessed.” Yep.
