What You Need to Know About the 2020 CMA Country Christmas Special

Well, country fans are fortunate that this year’s Christmas music festivities are still on! Time flew so fast and the first year of this new decade is almost over. But before we say goodbye to 2020, let’s not skip on the CMA Country Christmas television special!

A night of festivities, star-studded country performances, and the magic that the season brings are all the things that the 2020 CMA Country Christmas show promises to bring. Set to air after thanksgiving, the show is said to add an element of coziness and comfort this year.

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The ’60s and ’70s Theme

The executives from the CMA said that this year, they are looking to throw a theme of the great Christmas specials of the 1960s and 1970s. Executive producer Robert Crosby wants a concept similar to the times of Andy Williams, Perry Como, Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, and Frank Sinatra where viewers are invited to celebrate the holiday in the cozy homes of their hosts. Crosby wants to make the viewers just simply gather as friends and relax for a while forgetting all the glamorous and fancy productions.

Hosts

This year’s hosts will be both first-timers, Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akins. This would not be an easy task for both Rhett and Akins as they are to fill the shoes of last year’s host Trisha Yearwood and Reba McEntire. Jennifer Nettles has been the host of the show from the inaugural launch and the following 7 years.

Fortunately, Rhett and Akins are not rookies to such holiday hosting gigs. Both have small scale experiences of hosting family holiday gatherings and some caroling events with their fellow country stars.

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Performers

Thomas Rhett, aside from hosting this year’s festivities, will also be performing on the CMA Country Christmas Stage. Joining Rhett are other country stars that are a mixture of veteran performers and some newbies too.

Listed below are the performers for this year’s CMA Country Christmas:

Kelsea Ballerini
Gabby Barrett
Florida Georgia Line
Dan +Shay
Little Big Town
Lady A
Tim McGraw
Darius Rucker featuring Lindsay Sterling

Though it’s a custom for live audiences to be invited to every year’s CMA Country Christmas, that has to be scrapped from the plan. To ensure that the event will be celebrated in strict adherence to the social distancing protocols, the show was pre-recorded in Nashville and will air on ABC on November 30 at 9 PM ET.