Reba McEntire to Host 2017 ‘CMA Country Christmas’
Reba McEntire is taking over as host of the 2017 CMA Country Christmas special.
Jennifer Nettles, who has served as host since the show debuted in 2010, is stepping down from hosting duties and passing the baton to McEntire, who plans to make the evening as welcoming as possible, as opposed to it being a "formal event."
"But just a friendly ‘sit down, let’s sing, let’s talk a little bit, and then sing another song’ – and with lots of heartfelt emotion," McEntire tells People, adding she wants to make it feel "personal," "friendly" and comfortable.”
Country Singers Share Christmas Traditions
This isn't the only way McEntire is getting in the holiday spirit. Her third holiday album, My Kind of Christmas, was released exclusively through Cracker Barrel in 2016, and it's poised for general release on Oct. 13. There are four new tracks that feature friends including Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Darius Rucker, Kelly Clarkson and Trisha Yearwood. She's also included a new rendition of her gospel hit "Back to God," featuring Lauren Daigle. The two teamed up to sing McEntire's hit at the 2017 ACM Awards.
2017 has been a celebratory year for the country legend, who scored her first No. 1 album on the Billboard Christian Albums chart with Sing It Now: Songs of Faith and Hope. The album's lead single "Back to God" also appeared in the top spot on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart and earned her a 2017 Dove Awards nomination for Bluegrass/Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year.
CMA Country Christmas will air on Nov. 27 on ABC.
See Country Stars With Santa
Who Do Country Stars Want to Catch Beneath the Mistletoe?