Charles Kelley, Darius Rucker, David Nail and Mickey Guyton are among the artists performing some of your old favorites and new favorite Christmas songs during the CMA Country Christmas special. They’ll also be sharing some of their holiday memories and gifts, as well. They’ll be joined by Martina McBride, Jewel, Brett Eldredge, Dan + Shay, LeAnn Rimes, Thomas Rhett, Kelsea Ballerini, Michael W. Smith, Pentatonix and Brian Setzer, among others.
The CMA Country Christmas was taped at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House and will air Thursday night (December 3rd) at 9pm ET on ABC.
Audio / During the taping of the ABC special, CMA Country Christmas, a couple of weeks ago, Charles Kelley talked about his performance as a solo artist on the show.
DownloadCharles Kelley (CMA Christmas special) OC: …pretty fun. :32
“It’s a song that’s actually off of our Christmas album. The funny thing is that Hillary is here tonight with her little sister and Mom. It’s funny — she came backstage and I was like, ‘Omigosh! You need to come up and sing with me on this.’ Her little sister, they really want to see Pentatonix as well, and I don’t know, Hillary is so supportive of what I’m doing right now. I think it’s just so cool. But yeah, this will be the first time, other than Jimmy Fallon the other night, this will be kind of the first TV performance as a solo artist, but it’s a song I know pretty well, so it should be pretty fun.”
Audio / Expectant father Charles Kelley says he’s looking forward to future Christmases with his new son.
DownloadCharles Kelley (Christmas-baby) OC: …my family. :47
“This will be my first kid. We found out we’re having a little boy, so really excited. My wife [laughs] my wife was already asking if we should get him a stocking. He doesn’t come until February, and I was like, ‘You are truly nesting on a different level right now, if you want to give the baby a stocking that isn’t here.’ I’m not sure what she decided, but I can’t wait, honestly. It’s funny, in my mind I always pictured having a little girl. I don’t know why, and now that I know it’s a boy, I’m trying to think of all the little things I can teach him and it’s gonna be interesting to see if he’s more like me or more like Cassie. It’ll be fun to see. But, definitely, Christmases for a musician are the time that you probably get the most time off and you’re at home, so that’s gonna be a time I’m sure that I cherish most with my family.”
Audio / Darius Rucker talks about what he’s performing during Thursday night’s CMA Country Christmas TV special.
DownloadDarius Rucker (CMA Christmas special) OC: …this year. :26
“Tonight we’re doing ‘Winter Wonderland’ and we’re doing ‘What God Wants for Christmas.’ On these shows, you want to do one of the old standards that you do, and ‘Winter Wonderland’ is such a rockin’ song. It’s perfect, and ‘What God Wants for Christmas,’ I just love that song so much. I’m so proud to be part of writing that song and part of the whole thing. Last year it was funny ‘cause we really wanted to do the Christmas show, and I think I was going to Europe or something, and I couldn’t do it. I’m really excited that I get to do that song this year.”
Audio / David Nail talks about “This Christmas,” a song he’s performing during the CMA Country Christmas special.
DownloadDavid Nail (CMA Christmas special) OC: …old-timers. :22
“You know this song I’m singing tonight, I’ve listened to about 43-hundred times, so right now it’s my favorite. ‘This Christmas,’ the Donny Hathaway version. But, I’m a sucker for the old-timey ones, you know, Bing Crosby [etc.]. It’s just anything old-fashioned, so I’m getting up there in age, so I’m a sucker for the old-timers.”
Audio / Mickey Guyton talks about performing ‘Do You Want to Build a Snowman,’ a song from the animated Frozen soundtrack.
DownloadMickey Guyton (CMA Christmas special) OC: …be Elsa. :09
“I’m singing ‘Do You Want to Build a Snowman, and I just said I wanted to look like a snow princess, and I wanted to wear my hair in a braid and be Elsa.”
Audio / Mickey Guyton says she just loves the song, “Do You Want to Build a Snowman,” as well as the movie itself, Frozen.
DownloadMickey Guyton (CMA Christmas special) 2 OC: …really, really do. :27
“It’s just really exciting. I love this song, and it’s an emotional song. It’s a story about a love between two sisters, and I just think it’s really cool that I get to sing this song. I told my sister I was doing it, and I sent her a copy and all of her kids. She’s a teacher, so all of her kids just love this song. And everybody, as I was walked through the hall, they’re like, ‘FROZEN!,’ and I’m like, ‘That’s right.’ I love that movie. I really, really do.”
