Mary J. Blige working on first Christmas album

R&B star Mary J. Blige is set to team up with veteran producer David Foster to spread a little Christmas cheer this year (13) with her first holiday album.

The Real Love hitmaker will follow in the festive footsteps of Foster's previous collaborators Michael Buble, Rod Stewart and Celine Dion and record a series of seasonal favourites for A Mary Christmas, which is due for release in October (13).

Blige is the latest singer to embrace the holiday spirit a little earlier this year (13) - Kelly Clarkson and Leona Lewis are also planning Christmas projects.