Meghan Trainor – Holidays ft. Earth, Wind & Fire

Five Months Pregnant And Hiding Behind Giant Bows

Released October 30, 2020, as part of A Very Trainor Christmas, “Holidays” featuring Earth, Wind & Fire debuted at number 10 on the Holiday Digital Song Sales chart and reached number 35 on Canada’s Adult Contemporary chart. The track never entered the main Hot 100 but became an instant favorite among critics who called it 2020’s disco renaissance conclusion and a festive boogie that successfully fused the sound of “September” with “Let’s Groove.” But here’s the remarkable backstory: Trainor pre-recorded the music video five months into her pregnancy, strategically positioning oversized bows and tent-like costumes throughout to camouflage her growing belly. She told ABC Audio that the baby was kicking so much during filming she had to lie down between takes because of cramping. At one point she wore a life-size gold-wrapped gift box costume, simultaneously hiding her pregnancy while creating the boldest maternity fashion statement in Christmas music history.

The album debuted at number seven on the Top Holiday Albums chart and reached number 70 on the Canadian Albums Chart, proving Trainor could translate her pop star credentials into seasonal success. A Very Trainor Christmas followed her third major-label album Treat Myself, which had arrived earlier in 2020 before COVID-19 lockdowns changed everything. Three months into quarantine, Trainor decided completing a Christmas album was the perfect way to spread joy during a historically gloomy year. She recalled that most work happened during July and August heat, creating the surreal experience of recording holiday material while sweating in summer temperatures. The album balanced six original songs including “Holidays” with ten covers of Christmas standards, each featuring family members including her father Gary and cousins Jayden, Jenna, and Marcus Toney on various tracks.

Trainor co-wrote “Holidays” with Earth, Wind & Fire members Philip Bailey, Verdine White, and Ralph Johnson, along with Eddie Benjamin and producer Mike Sabath. The collaboration fulfilled a lifelong dream for Trainor, who grew up worshiping Earth, Wind & Fire as one of her family’s all-time favorite groups. She stated getting them to feature on the album still didn’t feel real and was the best Christmas present ever. The writing process emphasized celebration over reverence, focusing on calling families to announce you’ll be there soon rather than traditional religious themes. One repeated lyric captures the essence perfectly: It’s a celebration, get ready for the holi-, holi-, holidays. The song runs 2 minutes and 45 seconds, incorporating trumpets, layered harmonies, and horn bleats that critics immediately recognized as Earth, Wind & Fire’s signature sound transported to contemporary pop.

Recording took place during summer 2020 with Mike Sabath producing, programming, and handling vocal production alongside Trainor. Her brother Justin worked on production and engineering while Eddie Benjamin contributed guitar and background vocals. Philip Bailey, Verdine White, and Ralph Johnson delivered their parts remotely, imploring listeners to say they’re ready for the holiday while maintaining the group’s distinctive vocal harmonies. Sabath crafted the arrangement to sound like something that could have been released in the 1970s or 2020s without anyone questioning the era, emphasizing timeless groove over contemporary production trends. Critics noted how the track illustrated connecting threads between Seventies R&B and current pop, avoiding the trap of sounding like nostalgic tribute rather than genuine collaboration. GQ’s Olive Pometsey called it a festive boogie that concluded 2020’s disco renaissance, while Parade’s Lauren Ash believed it successfully captured the holiday spirit across decades.

“Holidays” appeared as track five on A Very Trainor Christmas, Trainor’s fourth major-label studio album and first Christmas project. The record was released by her entertainment company Honest OG Recording and Epic Records, marking her continued move toward creative independence after years of label disputes. Trainor conceived the album as pop Christmas, something playable throughout the year rather than relegated to December playlists exclusively. She wanted to counter the darkness surrounding 2020 with something joyful, recording it partially as therapy during lockdown isolation. The promotional campaign emphasized family collaboration, with performances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and NBC’s Christmas in Rockefeller Center special on December 2, where she wore a sparkling bodysuit with a massive green bow while reprising the song with Earth, Wind & Fire. Today’s Lindsay Lowe noted oversized bows were quickly becoming Trainor’s signature holiday accessory.

The music video, directed by Sarah McColgan and released November 23, 2020, showed Trainor singing with Earth, Wind & Fire on a decorated stage surrounded by dancers and festive decorations. Throughout the clip she wore tiny gift bows on her face along with a white winter dress featuring a large red bow, the tent-like ruffled dress, the sparkling bodysuit with gigantic bow, and finally the life-size gold-wrapped gift box costume. The oversized bow trend dominated social media discussion, with viewers praising what they called bold pregnancy style even though most didn’t realize she was pregnant during filming. Trainor later revealed she’d pre-recorded two music videos and fifteen performances five months into pregnancy specifically for later promotional use, demonstrating the strategic planning required to balance motherhood with pop star obligations. The video captured Earth, Wind & Fire’s timeless energy alongside Trainor’s contemporary pop sensibility, creating something that honored both artists’ legacies without feeling forced or cynical.

Four years later, “Holidays” accomplished what Trainor hoped: creating a pop Christmas track that worked year-round while spreading joy during an impossibly difficult year. The collaboration proved that contemporary artists and legendary groups could create genuine holiday music rather than cash-grab covers, provided everyone brought authentic enthusiasm rather than contractual obligation. As critics observed, the song successfully captured the connecting threads between Seventies soul and current pop, making it appeal to multiple generations simultaneously. Sometimes the best Christmas music comes from five-months-pregnant pop stars hiding behind giant bows while sweating through July recording sessions with disco legends, all determined to manufacture joy when the world needed it most. The fact that Trainor’s baby was literally kicking throughout the video shoot somehow makes the whole thing more perfect, as if even unborn children understood 2020 needed as much celebration as it could get.