The 14th annual CMA Country Christmas will air tonight (December 14) on ABC and stream next day via Hulu and Disney+. Amy Grant and Trisha Yearwood return as hosts, while Jordan Davis, Lindsey Stirling, Ashley McBryde, Jon Pardi, The War and Treaty and Zach Williams with Lainey Wilson will perform.
Watch highlights, including a moving performance by Christian rock artists Williams and Wilson who put their unique spin on gospel standard “Go Tell It On The Mountain.” Carrie Underwood and Pistol Annies will also perform.
Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood looked as beautiful on stage as she does off it, belting out holiday classics at the CMA Country Christmas special in a long glistening gown and dueting with Trisha Yearwood to perform “Mary, Did You Know?,” an audience favorite song.
This year’s holiday special will air Thursday, Dec. 14, on ABC and stream the following day on Hulu and Disney+. Among this year’s lineup are newly crowned CMA Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson as well as Zach Williams, Ashley McBryde Jordan Davis Jon Pardi The War and Treaty as well as two-time Grammy Award Winner Trisha Yearwood as well as revered gospel artist Amy Grant – as well as several more performers!
Last year, Sugarland singer Jennifer Nettles served as host for this star-studded event; however this year new hosts Gabby Barrett and Carly Pearce will serve as co-hosts; other musical guests to join include Jimmie Allen with Louis York from Shindellas, BRELAND Pistol Annies Brett Eldredge and Lady A.
Lady A
The Country music Association recently unveiled this year’s hosts and performers for its CMA Country Christmas special, including Amy Grant and Trisha Yearwood as co-hosts for its 14th edition, featuring one-of-a-kind musical performances of holiday classics from Jordan Davis, Carly Pearce, Gabby Barrett, Lady A, Ashley McBryde with Stirling Jon Pardi The War and Treaty Zach Williams Lainey Wilson as featured artists.
GRAMMY-winning trio Lady A made their CMA Country Christmas debut this year with an emotional rendition of their original tune “Christmas Through Your Eyes,” composed by Kelley, Haywood and Scott to express the joys associated with celebrating with your loved ones and cherishing everyday moments together as family.
This song can be found on their latest album, ON THIS WINTER’S NIGHT DELUXE, released November 30. Check out their performance below! Don’t miss CMA Country Christmas on ABC tonight from 8/7c until December 14th; then catch it anytime after that on Hulu or anytime online.
Brett Eldredge
Eldredge made headlines after winning the CMA’s New Artist of the Year award in 2021, thanks to his hit single “Mr. Christmas.” Since then he’s enjoyed seven more No. 1s and released two albums: Glow (2016) and Songs About You (2022).
Eldredge has made no secret of his intent to create romantic songs through his voice; and this year’s CMA Country Christmas performance certainly did just that.
Although his performance wasn’t necessarily eye-catching, there were several memorable moments during it. He sang his singles ‘Wait Up for Me’ and ‘Home Sweet Love’ which both featured an undertone of sensuality that stood out.
Breland performed “Under the Mistletoe” alongside Kelly Clarkson, prompting speculation of whether or not they are dating. Though no confirmation of this relationship has been given by either party, their friendship remains intact and has continued in some form or another since. Their performances also featured performances by Breland, Lainey Wilson, Zach Williams, Lady A and The War and Treaty Band. The special was broadcast Thursday on ABC and later streamed through Hulu and Disney+ services.
The Pistol Annies
Pistol Annies quickly become one of the most beloved trios in country music with their attention-grabbing name and fiery performances. When the trio debuted in 2011, Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley had already established themselves individually in Nashville as talented singer-songwriters who had earned critical acclaim; Pistol Annies brought together their fiery performances and thought-provoking lyrics into one package to become modern outlaws for our times.
Even though rumors of their separation were never fully dispelled, in 2017 both Lambert and Monroe issued statements that emphasized they did not intend to part ways as musicians and would continue collaborating whenever possible – something fans got a taste of when the Annies reunited for several shows on Miranda Lambert’s 2015 Roadside Bars and Pink Guitars Tour.
Pistol Annies will reunite onstage at this year’s CMA Country Christmas for an incredible performance of some of their most popular hits – an event you don’t want to miss!
Ashley McBryde
Ashley McBryde, GRAMMY, CMA and ACM Award recipient and Grand Ole Opry member, takes an audience seat prior to performing at any venue. Doing this allows her to get an understanding of where she will be playing – be it dive bars in Arkansas or Nashville clubs where she now performs. McBryde says listening has taught her much that has translated into her songwriting process.
McBryde did not disappoint on this year’s “CMA Country Christmas,” with her mesmerizing performance on “Joy to the World.” In particular, her incredible fiddle runs and foot-stomping choreography truly stole the show.
This 14th annual special began airing in 2010, featuring holiday classics and original songs. You can catch it both Thursday (Dec. 7) on ABC and Friday morning on Hulu and Disney+, produced by the Country Music Association with hosts Amy Grant and Trisha Yearwood as hosts, Jordan Davis, Lady A, Ashley McBryde Jon Pardi Lindsey Stirling The War and Treaty Zach Williams Lainey Wilson performing. Both platforms will continue streaming it until Dec 22nd.
Jon Pardi
Jon Pardi will make his CMA Country Christmas special debut on December 14. As Variety points out, Jon is “one of a crop of artists reinterpreting country’s old sounds with innovative approaches” using traditional instrumentation mixed with progressive grooves that look toward its future. Additionally, in 2023 he received one of music’s highest honors when he joined Grand Ole Opry.
His performance joins an already stellar lineup including Carrie Underwood (“Mary Did You Know”), Lady A (“Christmas Through Your Eyes”), Brett Eldredge (“Merry Christmas Baby”) and Pistol Annies (“Snow Globe”). Newcomer BRELAND provides a warm R&B reading of “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire),” while Ashley McBryde teams up with Stirling for a Texas swing interpretation of “Go Tell It on the Mountain”.
Zach Williams
The Country music Association announced the hosts and performers for its annual Christmas special, CMA Country Christmas. Amy Grant and Trisha Yearwood will cohost, while Jordan Davis, Lady A, Ashley McBryde, Jon Pardi, Lindsey Stirling, The War And Treaty Orchestra’s Lindsey Stirling as well as Zach Williams with Lainey Wilson will perform.
This 14th annual broadcast, recorded live in Nashville before a live audience, features breathtaking musical performances of classic holiday hits from Nashville artists. It will air Thursday, Dec 14 on ABC and again the following day on Disney+ and Hulu.
This year’s show included both secular and religious songs, with one of the most energetic performances coming from Christian rock artist Zach Williams and contemporary Christian singer Lainey Wilson performing “Go Tell It on the Mountain”, an iconic gospel standard featuring soulful vocals by Wilson alongside Williams’s guitar screams resulting in an electric performance.
The War & Treaty
CMA Country Christmas, hosted annually by Amy Grant and Trisha Yearwood, returns this year, featuring performances by Lainey Wilson, Jordan Davis, Ashley McBryde, Jon Pardi, Lindsey Stirling and The War and Treaty as well as Yearwood and Grant themselves. The 14th edition will also showcase new talent like Lainey Wilson.
Lainey Wilson and Zach Williams will give one of the evening’s most anticipated performances: they are reigning Country Music Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson will perform their country version of “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” following her successful 2024 that saw her claim album of the year at both CMA Awards and ACM Awards.
Other must-see moments included first-time hosts Gabby Barrett and Jimmie Allen teaming up for an incredible performance of “Silent Night,” Carly Pearce singing with Scotty McCreery to perform “O Holy Night,” and BRELAND singing “The Christmas Song”. For a complete list of performances click here.