Meatloaf Taps Garth Brooks and Reba McEntire for Christmas Album

Fruit loafs make lousy Christmas presents, but with the help of Garth Brooks and Reba McEntire, Meatloaf is hoping he'll make a better one. The singer is working on a Christmas album featuring the two country superstars as guest artists.

'Hot Holidays' should be ready for the holiday shopping season. The singer tells Billboard that his record label got excited about the idea after he wrapped up his new studio album. "After I played Sony ('Hell in a Hand Basket') I said, 'Look, I've got two other records. I've got a Christmas record and I've got another record,' and they said, 'Well, get us the Christmas record and start working on the other one.' So there you go -- I'll just keep recording."

John Rich would seem to be another potential guest artist on this or the other future Meatloaf project. The two worked closely together during the most recent season of 'Celebrity Apprentice' and, along with teammates Lil Jon and Mark McGrath, recorded 'Stand in the Storm' for charity. Lil Jon will appear on a future Meatloaf (real name Marvin Aday) album. 'Hot Holidays' will be the first Christmas album from the 'Bat out of Hell' creator.