Known as “The Delta Lady,” Rita Coolidge will bring her versatility, gorgeous voice, and stylish panache to Texarkana for a holiday show at the Perot Theatre on Tuesday, Dec. 9.

It’s a classy singer in a classy place, and Coolidge’s festive show will also have a local touch.

“A Rita Coolidge Christmas” will see Coolidge perform with a 80-person high school and college choir of area singers.

Coolidge is best known for such hits as “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” “Higher and Higher,” “All Time High,” and “One Fine Day” in a recording career that started in the late 1960s. Part Cherokee and part Scottish, the Grammy winner was also married to Kris Kristofferson, with whom she released duet albums in 1973 and ‘74.

She got her start working with musicians like Delany & Bonnie, Joe Cocker, Eric Clapton, Leon Russell and Stephen Stills.

Coolidge, her sister Priscilla and her niece have also joined together for Walela, a Native American trio, that’s put out three albums since 1997.

A performer who can do anything from Southern rock to the blues, her most recent solo album, “And So Is Love,” is a collection of jazz standards put out by Concord Records.

Brian Goesl, executive director of the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council, said Coolidge’s appearance here is a good opportunity for families to see a seasonal show.

“It will have all of her hits that everyone is used to hearing ... This is our family Christmas show for the season, and we think it represents a wonderful opportunity to hear a beautiful voice and the beautiful voices of four Texarkana high schools and Texarkana College,” said Goesl.

He said the local choir will sing with Coolidge for the opening number and three or four additional numbers. And he said Coolidge will perform a couple songs in Cherokee.

“It’s an interesting combination of work,” Goesl said, noting that even though it’s a holiday show Coolidge will sing some non-seasonal hits.

“We’re looking forward to it and it should be a great show,” he said.



(Show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $42 to $6. Group and half-price student discounts are available. To purchase tickets or for more information, call 903-792-4992 or visit www.trahc.org.)