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Colorado Matters

Dec. 18, 2025: Deck the halls with 'Garland'

·49 min·4 clips
Ryan Warner revisits a 1963 Judy Garland Christmas special that inspired a decade of Colorado Matters holiday extravaganzas.
The episode opens with host Ryan Warner introducing the 10th annual Colorado Matters holiday extravaganza, a tradition inspired by Judy Garland's 1963 Christmas television special. He explains that the special aimed to lift spirits after President Kennedy's assassination, setting a tone of resilience. The first segment revisits a 2017 performance by Isaac Slade of The Fray and his wife Anna, who sing 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' and discuss its origins during World War II. Isaac shares personal traditions, like listening to Christmas music year-round and building a Lego village, adding humor and warmth. Next, the episode jumps to the 2020 pandemic edition, featuring Broadway star Beth Malone, who performed virtually from Aspen. Malone reflects on Judy Garland's raw, thrilling performance style and recounts the abrupt cancellation of her show 'The Unsinkable Molly Brown' due to COVID-19, describing an emotional gathering with cast and crew on the empty stage. She also shares a childhood holiday memory involving a friend posing as Santa Claus. Warner then shares his own vulnerable moment, singing Judy Garland's 'What'll I Do' after being inspired by vocal instructors from Grand Junction who advocate singing for mental health. The episode continues with a 2019 performance by Colorado musician Julie Davis, who covers Garland's 'After the Holidays,' a song about a post-holiday breakup. Davis discusses her anxiety about covering an idol and her homage to Garland's outfit from The Tonight Show. Later, the show highlights a 2018 performance by the Andy Hackbarth Band, who recreated a campy dance number from Garland's special with Liza Minnelli. In 2022, singer-songwriter Neela Pekarek performs a winter song and talks about starting a family talent show tradition, including her father telling jokes from the internet. The episode concludes with a 2024 segment featuring Scott O'Neill, former Colorado Symphony resident conductor, who deconstructs 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow.' O'Neill explains how the melody arcs like a rainbow, shares his synesthesia (seeing colors with numbers), and discusses the song's hopeful message. The show wraps with Warner reflecting on the decade-long tradition and its roots in Garland's legacy, emphasizing themes of joy, community, and musical appreciation.

As heard by us

A holiday radio hour linking Judy Garland to Colorado's annual tradition.

Colorado Matters builds its holiday hour around a 1963 Judy Garland television special, using it as the spark for the station's annual holiday extravaganza.

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Why you'd press play

If you want a holiday listen built around Judy Garland and a live rendition of "After the Holidays," press play.

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