It’s been more than a decade since Clay Aiken released a new album, and 20 years since his last holiday album. So why did the American Idol favorite return to the studio? He wanted to make a classic Christmas album with arrangements inspired by the golden age of holiday pop.

Released on Nov. 22, Christmas Bells Are Ringing includes his take on standards like “Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and “Do You Hear What I Hear?”

Watch Jordan Edwards and Demi Ramos kick off the holiday season with Aiken and some of his favorite memories and hot takes on Christmas food. Of course, he told some American Idol stories too.