CMT celebrates the holiday season with two new Christmas-themed music specials premiering Wednesday, December 8th
11/01/21
“CMT CROSSROADS CHRISTMAS: BRETT YOUNG & FRIENDS” with special guests Boyz II Men, Chris Tomlin, Colbie Caillat, Dann Huff, Darius Rucker, Gavin DeGraw and Maddie & Tae at 8p/7c
“CMT’s A TENNESSEE KIND OF CHRISTMAS” with country icons Amy Grant, Billy Ray Cyrus, Clay Walker, Pam Tillis, Sara & Olivia Evans, Steve Wariner, Tracy Lawrence and Wynonna at 9p/8c
**key art
NASHVILLE -- (November 1, 2021) -- CMT today announced its star-packed holiday slate featuring two all-new Christmas-themed music specials, “CMT Crossroads Christmas: Brett Young & Friends” and “CMT’s A Tennessee Kind of Christmas,” premiering back-to-back on Wednesday, December 8th beginning at 8p/7c for a full night of holiday cheer exclusively on CMT.
“We’re excited to ring in the holiday season with our very first Christmas-themed Crossroads along with an all-new music special starring some of country music's greatest voices,” shared Margaret Comeaux, Vice President of Production, CMT & Executive Producer. “The Christmas cheer begins with hitmaker Brett Young and a variety of special guests both in and out of genre, followed by an incredible lineup of classic country legends in a Tennessee-themed holiday special. It will be a can’t-miss night of music filled with traditions both new and old alongside amazing renditions of our favorite holiday hits.”
-
“CMT CROSSROADS CHRISTMAS: BRETT YOUNG & FRIENDS” - 8p/7c
Multi-Platinum entertainer Brett Young returns to the storied “CMT Crossroads” stage for the first-ever Christmas-themed episode of the critically-acclaimed music series. The 60-minute special will feature Young alongside an all-star lineup of friends and collaborators Boyz II Men, Chris Tomlin, Colbie Caillat, Dann Huff, Darius Rucker, Gavin DeGraw and Maddie & Tae performing renditions of classic Christmas hits from his inaugural holiday album, “Brett Young & Friends Sing the Christmas Classics.”
Production Credits: CMT’s Margaret Comeaux and Switched On Entertainment’s John Hamlin serve as Executive Producers. Jackie Barba and Heather D. Graffagnino are Executives in Charge of Production. Leslie Fram is Executive in Charge of Talent; Shanna Strassberg is Talent Producer.
-
“CMT’s A TENNESSEE KIND OF CHRISTMAS” - 9p/8c
Country greats Amy Grant, Billy Ray Cyrus, Clay Walker, Pam Tillis, Sara & Olivia Evans, Steve Wariner, Tracy Lawrence and Wynonna will celebrate the season by sharing holiday traditions, personal memories and unforgettable performances of all-time favorite Christmas songs from numerous iconic venues and outdoor locations in and around Nashville.
Production Credits: CMT’s Margaret Comeaux, Taillight’s Tom Forrest and Lion’s Heart Entertainment’s Rac Clark are Executive Producers. Leslie Fram is Executive in Charge of Talent.
Both CMT original specials will re-air during CMT’s Christmas Week, running December 20-25; exact encore timing to be announced at a later date.
For updates and more information, visit CMT.com, follow @CMT on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok and use #CMTCrossroads to join the conversation.
***
About CMT:
CMT is the leading authority on country music and lifestyle, offering a mix of original series, music events and specials. CMT is everywhere its fans are, including two cable channels (CMT and the 24-hour music channel, CMT Music), radio (CMT Radio), digital (CMT.com) and social (@CMT on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok). CMT is a unit of ViacomCBS Inc. (Nasdaq: VIACA, VIAC) (“ViacomCBS”). For more information, please visit cmtpress.com.
About CMT Crossroads:
“CMT Crossroads” shows the far-reaching roots of country music by pairing country artists with musicians from other genres. Each episode features a different set of stars playing together, swapping stories and sharing their common love of music. The series debuted January 13, 2002 with Elvis Costello and Lucinda Williams and since has showcased dream musical partnerships including Ray Charles and Travis Tritt; Bon Jovi and Sugarland; Kelly Clarkson and Reba McEntire; Def Leppard and Taylor Swift; Sting and Vince Gill; John Mayer and Keith Urban; Mumford & Sons and Emmylou Harris; Steven Tyler and Carrie Underwood; Stevie Nicks and Lady Antebellum; Katy Perry and Kacey Musgraves; Alicia Keys and Maren Morris; Halsey and Kelsea Ballerini; and most recently, Nelly with Florida Georgia Line, Kane Brown, Blanco Brown & BRELAND, which aired in September. For more information, visit CMT.com, check out CMT Crossroads on Facebook & YouTube and use the hashtag #CMTcrossroads.
About Brett Young:
Young has captured the hearts of fans everywhere through his honest lyrics and West Coast-meets-Southern sound, aptly dubbed “Caliville” style. With an undeniable string of hits and two albums defined by a transcendent romantic spark, he has cemented his status as Country’s master over matters of the heart. The star broadened his emotional scope on WEEKENDS LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT THESE DAYS following his GOLD-certified sophomore effort TICKET TO L.A., which debuted atop the Billboard Country Albums chart. Young’s PLATINUM self-titled debut dominated the Top 20 on the Country Albums chart for 37 weeks and has contributed to 5.5 billion streams globally. He was named ASCAP’s 2018 Country Songwriter-Artist of the Year for his “melodic craftsmanship” (Billboard) and has also garnered nominations from ACM, Billboard, Teen Choice, CMT and CMA Awards. Racking seven consecutive No. 1 hits, Rolling Stone deemed Young “one of country’s most consistent radio stars.”
Ali Marszalkowski, Ali.Marszalkowski@viacomcbs.com
Rebecca Lawlor, Rebecca.Lawlor@viacomcbs.com
