Megan Moloney’s relationship with this year’s Country Music Association doesn’t end until she competes for six CMA Awards on November 19th. Two weeks later, the star will appear on “CMA Country Christmas,” the 16th annual edition of the holiday special, which airs Dec. 2 on ABC.
Newly named co-hosts for the show are crossover/Christian music star Lauren Daigle and one of the country’s leading figures, Jordan Davis.
In addition to Daigle, Davis and Moloney, the lineup for the Christmas special includes country favorites Riley Greene, Lady A, Little Big Town and Parker McCollum, as well as non-genre guest stars from the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks and Bebe Winans.
In the past, producers would film specials a night or two after the CMA Awards ceremony in November, but now they’re planning much more extensively. This year’s special was filmed on October 8th at Belmont University’s Fisher Center.
After airing Dec. 2 on ABC, the special will be available to stream on Hulu and Disney+ the next day.
As always, Robert Deaton will serve as executive producer on “CMA Country Christmas,” with Milton Sneed directing and John Max writing the script.
Although the special’s setlist has not been revealed, potential viewers may be inspired to choose from a Christmas playlist posted by CMA on Spotify, which includes previously released specials and some holiday music talent. Moloney has “All I Want for Christmas Is a Cowboy” on her playlist, and judging by CMA’s still of her taping with the Cowpoke lineup (see above), it seems likely that she will reprise the number in the special.
Other songs on the Spotify playlist include Daigle’s “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” Preservation Hall Jazz Band’s “You’re a Mean One, Mr, Grinch,” Lady A’s “Little Saint Nick,” Green’s “Christmas to Me,” Little Big Town’s “Christmas Night With You,” BeBe & CeCe Winans’ “The First Noel,” and Tedeschi’s “Blues on a.” holiday. ”
Moloney is nominated for the most awards at the upcoming CMA Awards, with six, along with Ella Langley and the show’s sole host, Laney Wilson. See the full list of nominees here.
