Nov 30, 2021

CMA Country Christmas Full Recap

Last night’s CMA Country Christmas special was filled with outstanding performances and memorable moments. The show was hosted by rising female country stars Carly Pearce and Gabby Barrett. The various performers gave us different flavors of country music along with comedic relief from the hosts and some of the performers.

One of the different types of music displayed tonight was a retro feel. The Pistol Annies kicked off the show with a very 60s-inspired performance of “Snow Globe” from their debut Christmas album Hell of a Holiday. The vocal arrangement, backing band, and saxophone solo made this a standout performance! Another retro performance was from Brett Eldredge of his song “Merry Christmas Baby”. Eldredge showcased the power of his voice and took us back to a classic Christmas with a Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra-inspired sound, complete with a brass band!

CMA Country Christmas wouldn’t be complete without special and unique collaborations and tonight’s show was no exception. Accompanied by Louis York and The Shindellas, Jimmie Allen gave an amazing Motown-style performance of his collaborative song “What Does Christmas Mean”. The Shindellas’ harmonious vocals and retro dance moves made this performance a standout moment from tonight’s show.

The other highlight collaboration from the show was from the hosts, Carly Pearce and Gabby Barrett. Pearce and Barrett sang “Sleigh Ride” accompanied by two students from the CMA Foundation’s in-school programs. The entire backing band, including the CMA Foundation students, really shined during this performance. Fans will be pleased by how well Pearce and Barrett’s voices go together and how much fun they had while performing!

There were also many powerful and spiritual performances. Carrie Underwood stunned viewers with a passionate performance of “Mary, Did You Know?”. Underwood continues to sweep viewers off of their feet, especially with her iconic vocal belts. Carly Pearce also lit up the stage tonight with her rendition of “O Holy Night”. This performance was perfect and very aesthetically pleasing, including her outfit, Winter Wonderland scenery, and the beautiful Nativity Scene behind her. Gabby Barrett also gave a special performance of “Silent Night” joined by her husband Cade Foehner on acoustic guitar. Barrett’s vocals were able to shine with the soothing instrument arrangement.

Other performances from tonight included Lady A’s intimate and nostalgic “Christmas Through Your Eyes”, Lainey Wilson’s flirty and funny “Christmas Cookies”, and Breland’s soulful rendition of “The Christmas Song”. Fans will surely be talking about CMA Country Christmas throughout the holiday season and will be adding the songs from the show to their playlists!

Fans can rewatch the special on Hulu.

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