Bill Anderson Gets Christmas Surprise From an ‘American Idol’

Christmas came early to Bill Anderson's house, but he doesn't quite know how it happened.

Bill and Steve Wariner co-wrote a Christmas song a few years ago, called 'Christmas in Your Arms,' which the group Alabama recorded. Now R&B singer Ruben Studdard, who won Season 2 of 'American Idol,' has released it as his new Christmas single -- much to the surprise of Bill! "We absolutely don't know how it came about," the Country Music Hall of Famer tells The Boot. "After reading a couple press releases that came from his people ... he evidently heard Alabama's version of it. Steve and I were both blown away when we found out that he had cut the song."

Ruben tells Beliefnet.com that he's a huge country music fan and that country is "the only industry that hasn't lost the heart of the people." He tells the website that he recorded 'Christmas in Your Arms' because, "I really wanted to just put something out that everyone could just listen to and it would uplift people's spirits. The song is just saying, basically to your wife or your family, that it doesn't mater where I spend Christmas as long as I spend Christmas in your arms."

Even if he doesn't know just how it all came together, Bill says he loves Ruben's version of the tune. "Anybody can copy a picture, but it takes a real artist to paint one. He took the song and made it his, and I admire that in anybody. It is a great compliment for an artist to pay a songwriter, to say, 'I like your song well enough to take it and make it mine.' I think that's what a real artist is."

The songwriter says he's not yet met Ruben but is planning to do so. "Not only do I want to thank him for recording this song, but now that I know he likes country music, I've got a few hundred other songs I'd like for him to hear!"

Alternately, Bill could just hand the singer his new CD when the two finally meet. 'Bill Anderson: Songwriter' will feature 12 new songs co-written with some of his most recent collaborators, including Brad Paisley, Jon Randall, Rivers Rutherford, Tim Nichols and Billy Montana. The album will be released after the first of the year.