Eric Church had certain family Christmas traditions, ones he wants to carry over into his immediate family, which includes his wife, Katherine, and two sons, Boone and  Hawk. One tradition, though, is very significant and puts everything into perspective for him and the rest of his family. “My grandmother, when she was alive, would always come over, and every year she would bring this Christmas story, and some of them were gut-wrenching. I’m not going to lie to you,” says Eric. “They were just heart-tugging stories…about a Christmas miracle…and she would always look all year long and find this story, and then we would have breakfast and she would read it, and it was just our family and we’ve carried that [tradition] on. My mom does that now and she’s kind of taken it and she finds the story, and that’s something I’m going to do with my family.”

The North Carolina native is making his way up the country charts with “Hell of a View.”

Chrissy Metz released her first Christmas song, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” this year, but unfortunately, she won’t be able to go home to Florida for the holidays.

“I’m really looking forward to keeping it low-key this Christmas. While I miss my friends and my family, of course, dearly, as I won’t be traveling. I will have a much quieter Christmas, and we have to find the silver lining in whatever that it is has been given us. So, I have some books to catch up reading and I have some, hopefully, music to be writing and just keeping it really low-key.”

Chrissy’s Christmas song, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” is pretty special to her and to her mom.

“’I’ll Be Home for Christmas’ is not only nostalgic but incredibly special to me because it’s my Mom’s favorite Christmas song,” says Chrissy. “This year it takes on a whole new meaning as we all more than ever want to be with loved ones, especially during the holiday season.”

Carrie Underwood joins CMT Hot 20 Countdown this weekend to talk about her Christmas album, My Gift. Maddie & Tae also join Cody Alan and Katie Cook to kick off the holiday countdown and talk about their We Need Christmas EP. Check them out Saturday and Stun at 9am ET on CMT.

https://twitter.com/cmtHot20/status/1339359761503055874

Maddie & Tae announced on Instagram that they are going live on YouTube this Saturday (December 19th) at 7pm ET/6pm CT. The duo will sing songs from their holiday EP, We Need Christmas, while driving through a “holiday light spectacular.” Check it out here.

Kacey Musgraves will appear on the new season of the iconic Sesame Street. The Grammy-winning artist posted the news, along with some photos, this week on her socials.

SEE YOU ON THE STREET! 💛@sesamestreet @elmo #Season52 pic.twitter.com/JtvCtQhGMF

— K A C E Y (@KaceyMusgraves) December 16, 2020

Lauren Alaina has been finding new ways to connect with her fans in 2020. Get an exclusive look into her world as she lives her best life this holiday season and focuses on all the good that happened this year.

CMT has announced the next installment of its beloved digital franchise, “Off The Road,” with Multi-Platinum-selling No. 1 singer-songwriter Lauren Alaina will premiere tonight, December 17th at 6p/5c.

A twist on CMT’s original “On the Road” concept capturing real-life moments on the road with country’s top talent, “Off the Road” is a candid mini-documentary style series that offers an authentic look at the new normal for artists as the pandemic caused their touring schedules, album launches and career plans to shift. 

From Lauren’s standout performance at this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to virtual cooking lessons with her sassy Nana, a Christmas performance at the Opryland Hotel and so much more, take a peek at quarantine life off-the-road with the rising superstar — her famous onesie collection included. 

“Lauren has always been incredible at connecting with her fans, and sharing the most genuine versions of herself in whatever she does,” shared Melissa Goldberg, CMT’s Senior Director of Digital & Social.  “We are excited to bring her authenticity and energy to this incredible new episode of Off The Road. We know the CMT audience will love this insider look at how Lauren’s spending her extra time and get a kick out of meeting the family members who share her superstar personality.”

“Off The Road” is one of the newest CMT digital series in a line of premium offerings from the brand that includes the recently premiered 8-episode “Pardi Time” with Jon Pardi, “Another Round,” which brings Music City’s celebrated ‘in the round’ format to life and has featured the iconic Williams family, “CMT Hit Story,” where artists like Tim McGraw and Kelsea Ballerini & Halsey have shared stories behind their hit songs, and many more.

Reba McEntire has graced us with a couple of Christmas collections, including 1995’s Merry Christmas to You and 2006’s Secret of Giving: A Christmas Collection.

She recalls one of her favorite Christmas memories when she was a young girl in Oklahoma. “The funniest thing I can always remember about Christmastime is my older brother Pake, when we were kids at home, he’d always be the first one to jump out of bed and run down the hall, and he’d just run down the hall with his underwear on,” she says. “And he’d say, ‘If y’all don’t hurry up and get up and get in here, I’m opening all the presents by myself.’ But he knew it was a standing rule we all had to be in there before anybody could open up a present, but I can still see Pake running down the hall.”

When her son Shelby was just a little boy, she recalls one Christmas morning when he was so excited about what “Santy Claus” brought him. “I’ll never forget one (Christmas) morning I woke up and I was laying on my left side and I felt something, and I opened up my eyes, and Shelby was three inches away from my face. He said, ‘Mom, you’re not gonna beweive what Santy Claus weft for me.’ And so, he said you’ve got to come here. I got up out of bed and went in there and there was this little tractor trailer set that he had just fallen in love with at the store. He’s seen it, and he said, ‘I can’t beweive he bought this for me.’ He was so cute.”

We all received an early Christmas present around Halloween when Brothers Osborne released their album, Skeletons. When it comes to the holidays, the duo love the sights and sounds of Christmas.

“I love the overall feel and look at that time of year, because it’s starting to get really cold then and everything’s coming to a halt. It stays dark, so you have a lot of Christmas lights. I just love Christmas lights – they put you in such an amazing mood,” says John Osborne. “Just the sounds, like all the Christmas music and even shopping, which is quite possibly one of the most hectic things to do during the holidays. Even if we have all our shopping done, we’ll still go to the mall just because it’s so alive and vibrant and the colors and the music and the lights. I just love it. It’s a bit sensory overload, but I kinda dig that.”

Brothers Osborne are currently climbing the country charts with “All Night.”

Keith Urban performs “One Too Many” with P!NK during the Live Finale Part 2 on NBC’s The Voice this week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFw3915t6BE

Adam Hambrick has released a couple of Christmas songs, but says “Silent Night” is probably his favorite Christmas song. “My favorite Christmas song is ‘Silent Night,’ because when we get together at Christmas, we all sing it together as a family like a fleet of Von Trapps (Sound of Music). So, that always reminds me of being at my grandmother and granddaddy’s house on Christmas.”

The Christmas season doesn’t begin for him and his family until they watch Elf. “Every year since my wife and I have been married, we decorate the Christmas tree while Elf is playing on the TV and while there are Christmas cookies baking in the oven. Those are the three things that we officially need to kick off Christmas. If we have those three things, we can roll with some Christmas.”

Alan Jackson is the patriarch of a family of five, including his wife Denise and his three daughters Mattie, Ali and Dani. Even though his children are grown, his family still stick to their Christmas traditions.

“Christmas is pretty traditional. We don’t let anybody open any presents until Christmas morning,” says Alan. “We don’t let them get up on their own and take off, you know, everybody has to wait and kind of get situated, and maybe have a cup of coffee, and then we start all of the regular Christmas morning activities, opening presents, taking pictures and video. We have music going, you know, I try to keep Christmas music going in the background. I like to turn that on before I let them come down to the tree and everything.”

Alan released his second holiday album, Let It Go, in 2002.

Several UMG Nashville artists have a part in reading the holiday classic, “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” We have two versions — a produced and dry read.

Keith Urban
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

Carrie Underwood
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap

Kimberly from Little Big Town
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

TJ Osborne
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

John Osborne
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.

Tae from Maddie & Tae
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

Jimi from Little Big Town
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.

Lauren Alaina
More rapid than eagles his reindeer they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

“Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! On Donner and Blitzen!

Caylee Hammack
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

Dierks Bentley
So up to the house-top the reindeer they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too

Darius Rucker
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

Jordan Davis
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

Maddie from Maddie & Tae
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

Karen from Little Big Town
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

Jon Pardi
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

Brandon Lay
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!

Phillip from Little Big Town
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

Luke Bryan
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.

And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

Alan Jackson
But I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”