Country singer Martina McBride had a less-than-joyful Christmas this year, as a fire destroyed her family's cabinet-making business in Medicine Lodge, Kansas.

The blaze occurred Dec. 22. McBride, her husband and children were in Kansas visiting her parents at the time. McBride's spokesperson confirmed that the blaze "completely devastated" the family business, which had been in operation for nearly two decades. There is no word yet on the cause of the fire.

News reports have said that in addition to the business, several items of country music memorabilia and some vintage guitars were also lost in the fire. McBride comes from a musical family, who once performed as country band the Schiffters (Schiffter is McBride's maiden name).

Despite the personal loss, McBride's holiday was marked by a professional score, when her holiday release, White Christmas, reached the No. 9 slot on Billboard's country album chart; three songs from her Christmas album are currently on the country singles chart as well.

-- Lisa Zhito, Nashville

courtesy of www.launch.yahoo.com