Nov. 16, 2020
KELSEA BALLERINI, GABBY BARRETT, DAN + SHAY, FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE, LADY A, LITTLE BIG TOWN, TIM McGRAW, THOMAS RHETT, AND DARIUS RUCKER WITH LINDSEY STIRLING TO PERFORM DURING ‘CMA COUNTRY CHRISTMAS,’ MONDAY, NOV. 30
Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akins Host 11th Annual Holiday Music Special on ABC
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With Christmas just around the corner, the Country Music Association has revealed performers for its annual holiday special, “CMA Country Christmas.” Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Lady A, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Thomas Rhett, and Darius Rucker with Lindsey Stirling will take the stage for a spirited night of festive classics.
Announced last week on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” husband and wife team Rhett and Lauren Akins, a New York Times bestselling author, will make their TV hosting debut together during the 11th annual music celebration. “CMA Country Christmas” airs MONDAY, NOV. 30 (9:00-10:00 p.m., ET). (TV-PG)
“The idea for this year’s show was to do a throwback of the great Christmas specials of the 1960s and 1970s,” says Robert Deaton, executive producer, “CMA Country Christmas.” “Andy Williams, Perry Como, Bing Crosby, Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra all had classic Christmas specials where the viewer was invited into the homes of the host to celebrate the holiday like a best friend coming to visit. That was what we wanted to create for this year’s show. Instead of a big flashy production, we took a page from those iconic specials to say, ‘Come relax, and let's celebrate the holiday together.’”
Filmed for the first time without a live audience this past September, “CMA Country Christmas” is a production of the Country Music Association. Deaton is the executive producer and writer. Paul Miller is the director.
CMA partnered with Balsam Hill, stunningly realistic Christmas trees and beautifully designed holiday décor, to decorate the “CMA Country Christmas” stage again this year.
About “CMA Country Christmas” Starting in 2010, “CMA Country Christmas” rings in the holiday season annually with a show full of festive classics and one-of-a-kind musical performances. The event is filmed in Nashville and airs each holiday season on ABC. ABC is the network home to the CMA Awards and CMA’s summer concert TV special “CMA Fest.”
Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akins Lauren Akins Photo Credit: Katie Kauss/CMA Photo Credit: Julie Paisley
Kelsea Ballerini Gabby Barrett Photo Credit: Hannah Lux Davis Photo Credit: Robby Klein
Dan + Shay Florida Georgia Line Photo Credit: Catherine Powell Photo Credit: John Shearer
Lady A Little Big Town Photo Credit: Dove Shore Photo Credit: Reid Long and Becky Fluke
Tim McGraw Thomas Rhett Photo Credit: Robby Klein Photo Credit: Nick Rau
Darius Rucker Lindsey Stirling Photo Credit: David McClister Photo Credit: Sydney Takeshta
For more information about “CMA Country Christmas,” visit CMAchristmas.com.
ABC Media Relations Bridgette Maney [email protected]
Chelsie Tanamachi [email protected]
CMA Media Contacts Catharine McNelly, CMA [email protected]
Krista Farmer, CMA [email protected]
-- ABC --