PEOPLE

‘Duck Dynasty’ hatches Christmas album

11/2/2013

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INVISION

NASHVILLE — Already atop the duck hunting industry and cable television, the Robertson family of juggernaut reality series Duck Dynasty now has the music charts in their crosshairs.

Duck the Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas, which was released this week, features the bearded, down-home-on-the-bayou clan singing traditional Christmas carols and duck-themed songs in the latest addition to their stable of merchandise.

The album showcases the family’s work on the squawking duck calls that have made their Duck Commander company leaders in the hunting industry. The family got a little help from country stars such as Luke Bryan, George Strait, and Alison Krauss, who lent their voices to some tracks.

Willie Robertson, Duck Commander’s chief executive, is not counting on music being a full-time gig for the crew, who have parlayed the A&E Network’s series into a merchandise line sold at big-box retailers such as Walmart and Sears.

“We’re not aspiring to be country music stars,” Robertson said in an interview about the album, which was produced by Nashville hitmaker Buddy Cannon.

Duck Dynasty drew 11.8 million viewers for its season four debut in August, a record for a cable nonfiction series according to A&E. The show chronicles the Robertsons’ rural Louisiana life of hunting, fishing, and domestic squabbles.

Led by Robertson patriarch Phil, his sons and daughters-in-law, grandchildren, wife Miss Kay, and brother Si, sing and toot their duck calls on songs like “Duck the Halls" and “Camouflage and Christmas Lights.”

Willie got some help from Nashville songwriter Dallas Davidson in writing a few songs, including “Ragin’ Cajun Redneck Christmas.”