[2] After a successful period which spawned five country number one hits and two platinum albums, Burn (2000) and I'm Alright (1998), Messina took a break from the music industry and released a Christmas album titled A Joyful Noise (2002).

The compilation includes eleven of Messina's country hits.

The compilation became a success, becoming her second number one album on the Top Country Albums chart following Burn and was Messina's then highest-charting entry on the Billboard 200, debuting at number 14.

The album was later certified Gold by the RIAA for shipments of 500,000 copies.

The Enhanced CD version of the album includes the video for "Bring On the Rain".