The CMA Country Christmas special debuts Thursday (Dec 14) on ABC and can be streamed the next day on Hulu and Disney+. Carrie Underwood, Lainey Wilson and Brett Eldredge are featured as among other performers.
On Tuesday, the Country music Association unveiled this year’s hosts and performers for its Country Music Association awards show: Amy Grant and Trisha Yearwood will join a lineup that includes Ashley McBryde, Jon Pardi, Lindsey Stirling, The War and Treaty band members Zach Williams and Lainey Wilson as hosts and performers.
Hosted by Trisha Yearwood & Amy Grant
Trisha Yearwood and Amy Grant will bring their signature joie de vivre to ABC’s CMA Country Christmas, airing Thursday (December 14). As hosts for this annual holiday special, Trisha Yearwood and Amy Grant will serve as hosts – Yearwood serving three times prior and Amy Grant first time around as hosts for this festive special! It will also be available to stream on Hulu and Disney+ post-air. Yearwood’s third time hosting while this will be Grant’s inaugural appearance as hostess.
At their event, Jon Pardi and Ashley McBryde will be joined by other performers – Lainey Wilson (singing “Go Tell It on the Mountain”) will stand out among many. Additionally, Jordan Davis from Christian Art Ministry Jordan Davis/Ashley McBryde collaboration, Jon Pardi/War & Treaty/Lindsey Stirling are scheduled to make appearances.
Star performers such as Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland and Carrie Underwood have shared their memorable holiday stories during this event in years past.
Robert Deaton will serve as Executive Producer, while Milton Sneed will direct. It will air live in HDTV format 720 Progressive (720P), chosen by ABC for this event, with 5.1 channel surround sound and Chevrolet as Official Ride Partner; Pepsi as Beverage Partner; the production is from Country Music Association under Robert Deaton/Paul Miller/David Wild Production; Billboard is proudly associated with it for promotional purposes and streaming services.
Performances by Lainey Wilson & Zach Williams
If you love country music, this year’s CMA Country Christmas special on ABC airing tonight and Hulu/Disney+ available the next day won’t disappoint. This two-hour special will showcase incredible musical performances of festive classics by some of country music’s biggest stars – you don’t want to miss it!
This year’s special was co-hosted by country music icons Trisha Yearwood and Amy Grant, featuring performances by Jordan Davis, Lainey Wilson, Ashley McBryde, Lindsey Stirling, Jon Pardi, The War & Treaty and Zach Williams – plus celebrity collaborations that will have audiences gasping! In addition to our stellar lineup, there will also be exciting celebrity appearances that are sure to leave everyone gasping all night long!
Lainey Wilson and Christian rocker Zach Williams combined forces for this year’s CMA Country Christmas broadcast performance of “Go Tell It on the Mountain.” Bringing an eclectic blend of popular music genres – house band and orchestra included! – they brought an exquisite rendition to CMA Country Christmas listeners.
As much as their energetic performance was entertaining, what really stole the show were Wilson and Williams’ stunning harmonies. Wilson’s vocals may sometimes sound weak at times but together they work wonders when combined with Williams’ signature gritty to bring Williams’ song alive and create spiritual harmonies to end it off – an impressive duet that proves Wilson is one of 2024’s premier country artists.
Lady A
Dierks Bentley, Colbie Caillat, Martina McBride, Little Big Town, Jennifer Nettles, Scotty McCreery and Lady Antebellum among many other country music artists come together for this two-hour CMA Country Christmas special to mark the season on Thursday, December 20 (9:00-11:00 PM/ET). ABC will air the special.
Anita White, commonly known by her stage name Lady A, initially thought the call she received one spring day in 2020 was just another prank call. Soon thereafter however, more calls began coming in from family, friends and fans wanting to discuss the controversy over her name being used by an entirely unrelated country band – something Anita had long battled against.
Looking back, Lady A sees her fight as an epic modern-day David-and-Goliath tale and credits faith as the cornerstone of her success. Now using her newly acquired platform to give back and perform across the world – recently returned from Europe and gearing up for 2024 shows and festivals across North America; Seattle-based artist also credits being able to retire early from her city job as yet another blessing amid such busy travel schedule.
The War & Treaty
Michigan husband-and-wife duo The War and Treaty provided the night with its soulful energy with an energetic performance of “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).” Making their first live stream appearance online last weekend, this couple performed live before an audience welcoming stone fireplace with open arms.
The War and Treaty’s blend of gospel, country, and Americana helped them secure a foothold within country music since releasing their debut album Healing Tide in 2018. Since then they’ve earned two Grammy nominations at the 66th Annual Awards as well as recently releasing their Christmas EP.
They’re set to release their self-titled debut full-length next year, featuring elements of gospel, roots and Americana produced by top Nashville producer Dave Cobb (“Elvis” film soundtrack, Chris Stapleton) – creating an uplifting and upbeat tribute to family, faith and fun!
Their story would make an engaging Hollywood script: they began performing street performances as duets in Detroit before moving onto the Grand Ole Opry. Michael Trotter, grandson of slaves who survived homelessness and served in Iraq war has persevered through multiple injuries and an uncertain start in music to prove himself as an inimitable musician with unmistakable style.
Jordan Davis
Jordan Davis hails from Shreveport and Nashville-based creative soul with one foot firmly planted in both eras of music history. His songs draw from classic lyrical songwriters like John Prine and Jim Croce while their silvery phrasing and tech-tinged production embody genre-defying musicality of Lady Antebellum-era country stars like Lady Antebellum; all this comes together for a sound that is both nostalgic and upbeat, cementing Davis as one of music’s breakout hitmakers with both releases of Home State (which received Platinum certification), Bluebird Days (also certified Platinum certification).
Songwriting inspired him to relocate from Louisiana to Nashville in 2012, where he developed his signature sound while tending bar at Ellendale’s restaurant in Donelson neighborhood. Soon thereafter, Universal Music Group talent scouts noticed him and signed him to their roster shortly afterwards.
This year, he’ll make his CMA Country Christmas debut with “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” along with Lainey Wilson in a special performance. Other performers will include Lady A, War & Treaty, Ashley McBryde and violinist Lindsay Stirling – among many more! The two-hour special will air live on ABC Thursday night (Dec 14) at 8 PM ET before becoming available the following day on Disney+ and Hulu for all to experience this stunning night of country music performances!
Jon Pardi
Jon Pardi has earned praise for his ability to blend “new ideas with fiddle, steel and twang,” (“Variety”) into an outstanding blend. As host of CMT digital series Pardi Time on CMT and with songs like California Sunrise, Head Over Boots and Heartache Medication.
In 2024, Pardi reached another career highlight when he was honored with induction into the Grand Ole Opry as California’s inaugural artist recipient of such an honor. Shortly afterwards he married Summer.
He and his wife met as children growing up in Clovis, California. Now married, they are raising two children together at their ranch home in Murfreesboro: Presley was born February 2023 while Sienna Grace came along in July.
Fans can catch this year’s CMA Country Christmas on ABC on Thursday (Dec 14), as well as next day on Disney+ and Hulu. The special will feature performances by Lainey Wilson, Zach Williams, Lady A and Jordan Davis – produced by Robert Deaton with direction by Paul Miller and written by David Wild; Chevrolet serves as Official Vehicle Partner while Pepsi is Official Beverage Partner; all three brands being presented by Ticketmaster for this show.