Following a hilarious one-hour special from country music legend Brad Paisley, it’s officially Christmas in the country music world. Every year, the Country Music Association produces a Christmas special, CMA Country Christmas, to cherish what country music is all about. This year was their 10th annual celebration was filmed at Belmont University’s Curb Event Center in Nashville, Tennessee, and highlighted fabled host Trisha Yearwood making it her first time hosting the special, and her first hosting gig ever other than her successful TV debut Trisha’s Southern Kitchen. Yearwood, dressed in an eloquent, lengthy green ball gown, inaugurated the special with a medley of holiday classics such as “Winter Wonderland,” “Silver Bells,” and “Jingle Bell Rock.”

On hosting nerves the “She’s In Love With The Boy” singer told PopCulture, “I think the biggest thing is being comfortable in front of a crowd. I know it sounds crazy, because what I do for a living is seen by people, but I’m an introvert, which is hard to probably believe. So singing in front of an audience and talking to an audience was something I only had to learn to be comfortable doing.”

Tuesday night’s special on ABC embodied nearly two hours of show-stopping performances from country music’s hottest stars and musical guests from other genres. In the past, the show has seen performers to the likes of Kelsea Ballerini, Tony Bennett, Dan + Shay, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire and Jennifer Nettles who both were former hosts. This year’s special included the likes of Brett Young, Runaway June, Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts and more. Here are our favorite moments of the night.

Chris Janson left enough holiday cheer to go around in a bluesy, rockin’ feel-good execution of Chuck Berry’s “Run Run Rudolph.” Janson left a grand smile on stage and then whipped out a harmonica to contribute his special imprint towards the end of his performance to prove just how multi-talented he really is.

Two-time Grammy award-winning Christian pop duo For King & Country performed an electrifying rendition of The Trapp Family Singers’ “Little Drummer Boy.” The Nashville-based band marked one of the most compelling performances of the night.

Country newcomers, Runaway June performed an upbeat and cheerful version of “Sleigh Ride” illustrating their performance with delicate, sparkly red outfits that paired with their harmonious vocal capabilities.

Lastly, Rascal Flatts joined forces with 12 time Grammy award-winning gospel legend CeCe Winans to perform a modish, funky traditional spiritual tune, “Go Tell It on the Mountain.”

The 2019 special also brought together an indelible feministic performance of “Children, Go Where I Send Thee” featuring Tori Kelly, Trisha Yearwood, Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott, CeCe Winans, and Kristin Chenoweth reminding the audience of the importance of females in the music industry.

Other lasting performances including Brett Young’s rendition of “This Christmas,” Chris Young’s “Holly Jolly Christmas,” Tori Kelly’s “Do You Hear What I Hear,” and Rascal Flatts’ “Deck The Halls.”

What a perfect start to the Christmas season. Merry Christmas! 🙂

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