Idol Chatter & Voice Views

* A blog I posted earlier this week included a link to video of Kellie Pickler singing “Santa Baby.” If you missed it, here’s the link again.

Anyway, “Santa Baby” by Kellie and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” by Carrie Underwood are featured on the album, “A Very Special Christmas 7,” released last week.

The album also features Christmas songs performed by Colbie Caillat, Ashley Tisdale, Miley Cyrus and many others. When I checked Wednesday, the 13-track CD was selling for $8.99 on amazon.com; $9.99 through iTunes.

* If you haven’t had your fill of Christmas music yet, Ruben Studdard is about to release a version of “Christmas in Your Arms.”

The song will be available for download come Tuesday. If you want to hear the song, go here for a RealPlayer version and here for a Windows Media version.

Ruben released an album of love songs earlier this year and is also preparing for an upcoming performance on BET’s The Mo’Nique Show. The air date hasn’t been determined.

* With a debut album due out next year, Jason Castro is also scheduled to go on tour with Matt Hires.

So far, the tour features about 30 dates from Jan. 20 through the end of February, including a stop at World Cafe Live in Philly on Tuesday, Jan. 26.

Hires released an album earlier this year called “Take Us To the Start.”