If it could be Christmas all year long, legendary Grammy Award-winning recording artist Dionne Warwick would have it just that way. It is truly her “favorite time of year,” the title of her holiday album, which is being released by Rhino Records this season. A bit of an individualist at heart, Warwick, the mother of two sons, Damon and David Elliott, says, “My traditional Christmas is one that my family established long ago.

“I prepare the entire Christmas dinner myself, which consists of every meat, vegetable, baked bread, starchy food, salad and dessert that we have had throughout the course of the year. And, yes, I prepare it all in my own kitchen. Of course, presents are very important for the family, but because it is open house for family, friends and neighbors to drop on by, all who come for Christmas dinner receive a gift to take home with them. The end of our Christmas Day is spent either watching the football game or playing pinochle. And that is our tradition!”

Warwick has been traveling almost every week out of the year, performing across the globe on her 45th Anniversary World Tour, visiting every continent and country she has ever played. In between, she has managed to fit in television appearances on “American Idol,” “Dancing With The Stars,” Simon Cowell’s “Celebrity Duets,” and most recently, “The Today Show,” as well as receiving several lifetime achievement awards. She is also recording a new gospel album for Rhino which will be released in early February. To say her plate is full is an understatement. She has devoted countless humanitarian hours to charity, supporting AIDS causes as well as music education and her own Dionne Warwick Institute School in East Orange, New Jersey. Warwick also served as U.S. Ambassador for Health and as a Global Ambassador for the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization.

With a career spanning more than four decades, Dionne Warwick has had more than 60 charted hits and has sold over 100 million records. She is recognized worldwide for her chart-topping hit songs such as “Walk on By,” “Don’t Make Me Over,” “Do You Know the Way to San Jose,” “Alfie,” “I’ll Never Fall Again,” “Déjà Vu,” “I’ll Never Love This Way Again” and the landmark hit song “That’s What Friends Are For,” to name a few. This particular song reunited Warwick with her longtime collaborator Burt Bacharach and fellow artists Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight and Elton John. The number-one record worldwide raised awareness and more money for AIDS than any other single release. Warwick was also the first African-American female artist to give a Royal Command Performance for Her Majesty, the Queen of England.

Warwick’s upcoming tour schedule takes her to Denmark, Sweden and Ireland, returning on Christmas Eve—just in time to enjoy her “favorite time of year.”