While most people are slowing down to relax during the holidays, Jennifer Nettles is ramping up. As if the Georgia native didnât have enough to do this holiday season with the release of her new To Celebrate Christmas album, performing select dates on tour in support of the album and starring in Dolly Partonâs Christmas of Many Colors TV special, Jennifer will also be hosting CMA Country Christmas, which airs Nov. 28 on ABC.
âThis will be my seventh year hosting the CMA Country Christmas show,â Jennifer tells Nash Country Daily. âSo Iâve had a good bit of time to be like, âHey, Iâve sung a million Christmas songs, which ones do I like and which ones donât I like and why donât I make a Christmas recordâitâs about darn time.'â
CMA Country Christmas, taped in front of a live audience at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, gathers stars together to celebrate the holidays in song. The result of Jenniferâs hosting duties may have led to the making of her current Christmas album, but the show will see Jennifer recreating the collaborations from her album, including âLittle Drummer Boyâ with Idina Menzel and âGod Rest Ye Merry Gentlemenâ with Andra Day.
âOn the CMA Country Christmas Iâll be performing a couple of songs from the collaborations off that [album]. To Celebrate Christmas is more rootsy and definitely me. There are some horns on it, but I would definitely call it more like Muscle Shoals sound that you would hear. But itâs organic and more rootsy. I have a collaboration with Idina Menzelâwe did âLittle Drummer Boy.â The McCrary sisters sing back-up and they are just fantastic. They are on some of the tracks too to offer that sound.â
To Celebrate Christmas is out now and you can catch Jennifer on select dates in support of her album as well as hosting CMA Country Christmas on Nov. 28 on ABC 8 p.m. ET.
To Celebrate Christmas Track Listing:
1. âGo Tell It On The Mountainâ
2. âGod Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (featuring Andra Day)
3. âLittle Drummer Boyâ (featuring Idina Menzel)
4. âCelebrate Me Homeâ
5. âCircle of Loveâ
6. âDo You Hear What I Hearâ
7. âCount Your Blessings Instead Of Sheepâ
8. âO Holy Nightâ
9.âMerry Christmas with Loveâ
10 âThe First Noelâ
Photo by ABC/Heidi Gutman