NASHVILLE – The music and traditions of the holidays are center stage for “CMA Country Christmas,” a two-hour special hosted by Jennifer Nettles airing Monday, Dec. 2 (9:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.

The special is a celebration of the season featuring Country’s top stars and non-format favorites performing holiday songs and sharing their personal holiday traditions and memories. The special tapes in front of a live audience Friday (7:00 PM/CT) at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.

Joining the previously announced star-packed lineup of performers is Mary J. Blige, Lady Antebellum, and beloved Peanuts characters Charlie Brown, Lucy and Linus van Pelt, and Snoopy. 

Performers already announced include Trace Adkins, Luke Bryan, Sheryl Crow, Lucy Hale, Nettles, Jake Owen, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, “Duck Dynasty’s” Willie Robertson, and Michael W. Smith.

“The lineup for this year’s special keeps getting better with the addition of Mary J. Blige and Lady A,” said CMA Board President Ed Hardy. “And the icing on this Christmas cookie is the Peanuts gang. Talk about two great holiday traditions coming together to celebrate the season.”

For the second year, audience members are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to the taping to help make the holidays brighter for Nashville area children. The Nashville-based, non-profit group Generosity will have volunteers on site with specially marked bins to collect the toys, which will be distributed to homeless families this holiday season. In 2012, the group collected more than 5,000 toys.

Volunteers from Generosity will start accepting toys Friday at 1:00 PM/CT at the Bridgestone Arena Plaza (corner of Fifth Avenue and Demonbreun). You do not have to have a ticket to the show to drop off a toy.

For updates and information visit CMAchristmas.com.

AUDIO: Lady Antebellum talk about their favorite Christmas albums.

Lady A (Christmas music) OC: (Charles) …a good one. :21
CHARLES: “Christmas albums live on for such a long time, and an album that we listen to a lot is Martina McBride’s and a lot of those kinds of albums, and recently the Michael Bublé record is really great. And it’s funny that we might be that record for people, that, putting the tree up listening to Lady Antebellum On This Winter’s Night.”  HILLARY: “Ours is Trisha Yearwood at our house.” CHARLES: “That’s a good one.”