The members of Little Big Town have their own traditions, but one they’ve all seemed to have adopted is Kimberly Schlapman’s annual holiday tradition.

“My favorite holiday tradition is, it’s happened every year that I can remember that I’ve been alive,” she says. “We would go over to my grandmother’s house and have Christmas over there, and everybody would come home to Mama and Daddy’s house. We’d sit down and Mama hands out everybody a gift, and we act like we don’t what it is, but we do ’cause it’s always Christmas pajamas. So, everybody opens their Christmas pajamas and goes and puts ’em on, and we come back to the living room and we sit around Daddy and he reads ‘The Christmas Story,’ and we tuck ourselves in until Santa comes.”

For Jimi Westbrook, nothing says Christmas like Elvis Presley. “My favorite Christmas song is this song I start with every year Thanksgiving drive, my first Christmas song to play is Elvis Presley, ‘Santa Claus is Back in Town.’ Sexy. Rockin’. Love it.”

Phillip Sweet and his wife Rebecca start early with their gift-giving for daughter Penelopi. “We do a little Christmas tradition in our house,” he says. “We do, you know the little tree in the countdown to Christmas? We put little treats in each little doorway. [Penelopi] opens the countdown to Christmas. (KIMBERLY: “Cuuuute.”) She gets a new little treat every day leading up to Christmas.”

One of Karen Fairchild’s traditions include making candy. “Christmases at our house usually included making candy with my mother and my grandmother,” says Karen. “We did everything from potato candy to chocolate dipped peanut butter (JIMI: “That all sounds amazing.”) and fudge. My mom’s fudge recipe is amazing.” KIMBERLY: “What is potato candy?” KAREN: “It does use a potato, but it’s rolled and it has peanut butter inside.” 

LBT is currently making their way up the country charts with “When Someone Stops Loving You.”

Country Music’s biggest names celebrate the holidays with an encore presentation of “CMA Country Christmas,” airing this Thursday, Dec. 21st at 9/8c on ABC.

The eighth annual “CMA Country Christmas” returns with first-time host and iconic entertainer Reba McEntire and features two hours of festive performances from Nashville’s famed Grand Ole Opry House by Luke Bryan, CB30, Dan + Shay, Brett Eldredge, Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Dustin Lynch, Kelsea Ballerini, Reba, CeCe Winans, Trisha Yearwood and Chris Young. Don’t miss fantastic collaborations by Ballerini and Reba, Little Big Town and Reba, and Jackson and Young.

Visit CMApress.com for artist interviews and performance clips. For more information, visit CMAChristmas.com and follow us on Twitter @Countrymusic.

Lady Antebellum, Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town will be featured on the new compilation, 2018 GRAMMY Nominees album, which will be released January 12th. Hits by Kenny Chesney, Thomas Rhett, Bruno Mars, Kelly Clarkson, P!nk and Kendrick Lamar are also included on the collection.

A portion of album proceeds benefit the year-round work of the GRAMMY Museum and MusiCares—two charitable organizations founded by the Recording Academy that focus on music education programs and critical assistance for music people in need.

The 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards, which will be hosted by James Corden, will air live from New York City’s Madison Square Garden January 28th beginning at 7:30pm ET on CBS.

2018 GRAMMY Nominees Album Track List:

1. BRUNO MARS
   “24K Magic”
   Record Of The Year
   Album Of The Year
2. KELLY CLARKSON
   “Love So Soft”
   Best Pop Solo Performance
3. LUIS FONSI & DADDY YANKEE FEAT. JUSTIN BIEBER
   “Despacito” (Remix)
   Record Of The Year
   Song Of The Year
   Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
4. KENDRICK LAMAR
   “HUMBLE.”
   Record Of The Year
   Album Of The Year
5. LORDE
   “Green Light”
   Album Of The Year
6. CHILDISH GAMBINO
   “Redbone”
   Record Of The Year
   Album Of The Year
7. JAY-Z
   “The Story Of O.J.”
   Record Of The Year
   Album Of The Year
8. ZEDD & ALESSIA CARA
   “Stay”
   Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
9. LADY GAGA
   “Million Reasons”
   Best Pop Solo Performance
10. IMAGINE DRAGONS
    “Thunder”
    Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
11. THE MAN
    “Feel It Still”
    Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
12. THE CHAINSMOKERS & COLDPLAY
    “Something Just Like This”
    Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
13. P!NK
    “What About Us”
    Best Pop Solo Performance
14. LOGIC FEAT. ALESSIA CARA & KHALID
    “1-800-273-8255”
    Song Of The Year
15. JULIA MICHAELS
    “Issues”
    Song Of The Year
16. KESHA
    “Praying”
    Best Pop Solo Performance
17. CHRIS STAPLETON
    “Broken Halos”
    Best Country Album
18. LITTLE BIG TOWN
    “Better Man”
    Best Country Album
19. THOMAS RHETT FEAT. MAREN MORRIS
    “Craving You”
    Best Country Album
20. LADY ANTEBELLUM
    “You Look Good”
    Best Country Album
21. KENNY CHESNEY
    “All The Pretty Girls”
    Best Country Album

Keith Urban and Little Big Town are among the artists set to honor to Sir Elton John during a tribute concert, taking place January 30th at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris, Miley Cyrus, Kesha, John Legend and Sam Smith will also take part in the show, Elton John: I’m Still Standing – A Grammy Salute, which will be recorded for CBS TV for a special airing later this year. Tickets go on sale Monday (December 18th).

Sam Hunt recorded “This Land Is Your Land” for the Bright movie soundtrack released on Friday (December 15th). The film, starring Will Smith, will be released to Netflix on December 22nd.

Check out Sam’s cover of “This Land Is Your Land”. Available now on BRIGHT The Album.https://t.co/8PFC5urabS

— Sam Hunt (@SamHuntMusic) December 15, 2017

BRIGHT The Album out tomorrow pic.twitter.com/OpJdsWHY4B

— Sam Hunt (@SamHuntMusic) December 14, 2017

Little Big Town received a pair of Grammy nominations for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Better Man” and Best Country Album for The Breaker.  “Better Man” also received a nomination for Country Song of the Year; it was written by Taylor Swift.

LBT’s Karen Fairchild recalls one of her favorite memories at the Grammys when they made their Grammy stage debut to perform their hit “Girl Crush” in 2016.

“I love, I mean selfishly, I love singing ‘Girl Crush’ on there, because we had never been on the Grammy stage before,” says Karen. “[We had] an all-female orchestra. It was just so special and we’re so grateful we won a Grammy that night. So, that has to be my best memory.”

Bandmate Phillip Sweet agrees. “I think one of my most special memories from the Grammy Awards, honestly, was when we got to perform ‘Girl Crush’ on the show, but it was with this beautiful 15-piece orchestra and the arrangement was done by David Campbell who is a master arranger,” he says. “It was the most rewarding, artistic moment but also just a beautiful celebration of a classic, and I think, amazing song. [I’m] grateful we got to be the ones to record it and perform it, but that was one of my favorites.”

Little Big Town, who’s climbing the country charts with “When Someone Stops Loving You,” can next be seen on their upcoming The Breakers Tour, launching next year with opening acts Kacey Musgraves and Midland.

Holiday liners from UMG Nashville artists, including Alan Jackson, Billy Currington, Brandon Lay, Brothers Osborne, Canaan Smith, Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, Easton Corbin, Eric Church, Eric Paslay, Gary Allan, George Strait, Jon Pardi, Jordan Davis, Keith Urban, Kip Moore, Lady Antebellum, Lauren Alaina, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Sam Hunt and more!

The nominations for the 60th Annual Grammy Awards were announced early Tuesday morning (November 28th). Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town lead the country nominees with three apiece.

Chris is up for including Best Country Album for From A Room: Volume 1, as well as Best Country Solo Performance for “Either Way” and Best Country Song for “Broken Halos.”

The members of Little Big Town have nominations for Best Country Album for The Breaker, Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Better Man” and Best Country Song for “Better Man.”

Waking up this morning to the most incredible news. Feeling incredibly grateful. #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/mLaXJVqQSv

— Little Big Town (@littlebigtown) November 28, 2017

Lady Antebellum have two nods for Best Country Album for Heart Break and Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “You Look Good.”

Beyond proud of this album and couldn’t be more honored to be nominated in this category by the @RecordingAcad! #HeartBreak https://t.co/HmGA4jLVPn

— Lady Antebellum (@ladyantebellum) November 28, 2017

Been a few years since @ladyantebellum has been nominated for a #grammy. So appreciative of this journey for the #heartbreak album

— Charles Kelley (@charleskelleyla) November 28, 2017

Sam Hunt is also up for two Grammy Awards for Best Country Solo Performance for “Body Like a Backroad,” which is also nominated for Best Country Song. Sam wrote the record-breaking hit with Zach Crowell, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne.

Brothers Osborne picked up a nomination for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “It Ain’t My Fault.”

Well dang y'all! Woke up to a Grammy nomination this morning for It Aint My Fault. So rad! Thanks so much for love. #GRAMMYs 🙌🏼

— Brothers Osborne (@brothersosborne) November 28, 2017

The 60th Annual Grammy Awards will air live from New York City’s Madison Square Garden January 28th on CBS.

Best Country Album
Cosmic Hallelujah, Kenny Chesney
Heart Break, Lady Antebellum
The Breaker, Little Big Town
Life Changes, Thomas Rhett
From A Room: Volume 1, Chris Stapleton

Best Country Solo Performance
“Body Like A Back Road,” Sam Hunt
“Losing You,” Alison Krauss
“Tin Man,” Miranda Lambert
“I Could Use A Love Song,” Maren Morris
“Either Way,” Chris Stapleton

Best Country Duo/Group Performance
“It Ain’t My Fault,” Brothers Osborne
“My Old Man,” Zac Brown Band
“You Look Good,” Lady Antebellum
“Better Man,” Little Big Town
“Drinkin’ Problem,” Midland

Best Country Song
“Better Man,” Little Big Town
Songwriter: Taylor Swift

“Body Like A Back Road,” Sam Hunt
Songwriters: Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne

“Broken Halos,” Chris Stapleton
Songwriters: Mike Henderson and Chris Stapleton

“Drinkin’ Problem,” Midland
Songwriters: Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne and Mark Wystrach

“Tin Man,” Miranda Lambert
Songwriters: Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert and Jon Randall

Luke Bryan, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Alan Jackson and CB30 are set to perform during this year’s CMA Country Christmas airing Monday (November 27^th) at 8pm ET on ABC.  Hosted by Reba McEntire, the two-hour special will also feature performances by Brett Eldredge, Trisha Yearwood, Kelsea Ballerini, Chris Young, Dan + Shay and CeCe Winans.

CMA has partnered with Balsam Hill, the leading provider of beautiful, highly realistic, artificial Christmas trees and holiday décor, to decorate the “CMA Country Christmas” stage in 2017. Learn more about Balsam Hill at balsamhill.com.

Toys for Tots collected unwrapped toys from performers including Dan + Shay and CB30 in addition to generous audience members attending “CMA Country Christmas” at Nashville’s Grand Old Opry House. To learn more about donating to Toys for Tots throughout the holidays, visit toysfortots.org.

Keith Urban picked up three American Music Awards on Sunday night (November 19th); Favorite Country Male Artist, Favorite Country Album for Ripcord and Favorite Country Song for “Blue Ain’t Your Color.”

“I’ve always gravitated towards and written a lot of songs that have hope at their center. That’s really it, because if we don’t have hope then what’s the point? Life’s hard. It’s hard, and it’s very hard for some people more than others will ever begin to imagine, me being one of those people. There’s challenges that humans have faced that I can’t even begin to imagine what I would’ve done in that situation,” says Keith. “So, I love songs of hope, songs of compassion, songs of empathy, understanding, songs of forgiveness. I write a lot of those kinds of songs. I’ve always written those kinds of songs, because they’re things I needed to hear, as well…But ‘Blue Ain’t Your Color’ is cut from that cloth too; it’s a song of believing in somebody and believing somebody deserves better.”

Carrie Underwood was named Favorite Female Country Artist, while Little Big Town took home the trophy for Favorite Country Duo/Group for the first time.

Keith just released his new song, “Female,” which is already sitting inside the Top 30 on the country charts.

#AMAs pic.twitter.com/JeWNn3uCXu

— Keith Urban (@KeithUrban) November 20, 2017

https://twitter.com/KeithUrban/status/932459342124797952/video/1

Thanks to the fans for giving us our first AMA! Love y’all!! #AMAs pic.twitter.com/s8FiuT8it7

— Little Big Town (@littlebigtown) November 20, 2017

So amazing!!! Thank you, fans, for this! I so wanted to go to the #AMAs just in case because I know how hard you’ve been voting. I’m sorry I couldn’t get up there and thank you all on stage…you guys are incredible and am so thankful for you! ❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/tYt0NP6gZB

— Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) November 20, 2017