Just as I was privately lamenting a lack of new, quality Christmas songs this holiday season (Serenades being one bright, shining exception), along comes Kelly Clarkson to spread a little cheer. She’s covered the World War II-era chestnut, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” first recorded by Bing Crosby in 1943.

Clarkson actually tipped us off a couple of weeks ago that she’d recorded a Christmas song with her band, news I excitedly re-tweeted, only to completely forget about it until checking out this week’s new releases on the iTunes Store.

For Clarkson, who believes Bing Crosby has the best Christmas album ever, followed by Rosemary Clooney, recording “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” was “such a tease,” Clarkson says. “I can’t wait to make a Christmas album.” Neither can we.

While we anxiously anticipate that Christmas Future, there are two more holiday classics Clarkson has recorded in the past, “My Grown Up Christmas List” and “O Holy Night.” Both originally appeared on an American Idol holiday collection released in 2003.

Purchase Kelly Clarkson – “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” via iTunes.