What would the holiday season be without all the special programming
that will be saturating television viewing for the next month? From movies and holiday-themed
episodes of your favorite shows to the numerous specials both classic and new,
it’s almost as inescapable as holiday music.
Of course, many of these specials center on music as well. Such
yearly television offerings began last week with the Thanksgiving Parade, which
saw a handful of popular artists cruising down 34th Street “performing”
their own music as well as holiday classics. Between now and New Years, even
more musical specials will be hitting the small screen, ranging from tree
lightings and parades to concerts and Disney’s complete takeover of the
holidays.
In gearing up for the holiday season, Vinyl Bay 777, Long
Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at all the musical Christmas and
holiday specials coming to a television set near you in the next month. Here
are nine programs to get you into the festive spirit. (Note: Not included are
specials where music comes second to the event, like the Victoria’s Secret
Fashion show or the ‘A Home for Christmas’ special. Also not included is New
Years programming, as it deserves its own list.)
1.
‘Christmas in Rockefeller Center’: A New York
tradition for decades, ‘Christmas in Rockefeller Center’ ushers in the holiday
season by building up to the lighting of the Rockeffeller Center Christmas
tree. This year’s performers include Diana
Ross, Tony
Bennett and Diana
Krall, Pentatonix, Martina McBride, Kellie Pickler, Brett Eldredge, Ella
Mai, John Legend and Rob
Thomas. (11/28, NBC)
2.
‘A Legendary Christmas with John and Chrissy’: Speaking
of John
Legend, following the success of April’s ‘Jesus Christ Superstar Live in
Concert’ (which won him a coveted EGOT), the soulful R&B singer/renaissance
man returns to holiday television with his wife Chrissy Teigen to host a
traditional variety show. ‘A Legendary Christmas’ will feature Legend
performing music from his new holiday album of the same name, as well as special
guests and tons of lovey-dovey schmaltz. Music-focused guests include fellow ‘The
Voice’ judges Adam Levine, Blake Shelton and Kelly Clarkson, Meghan
Trainor, Raphael
Saadiq and many more. (11/28, NBC)
3.
The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday
Celebration’: Not to be outdone by NBC, ABC will be airing their annual ‘Magical
Holiday Celebration’ special direct from Disney’s amusement parks. This year
the program is being hosted by ‘Modern Family’s’ Sarah Hyland and ‘Dancing with
the Stars’’ Jordan Fisher (both of which are ABC shows) and will feature
musical performances from Gwen Stefani, Becky G, Meghan Trainor, Aloe Blacc, Andrea
Bocelli and more, plus appearances from your favorite Disney characters. (11/29,
ABC)
4.
‘Garth: Live at Notre Dame!’: Back in October, best-selling country artist Garth
Brooks played a stadium show at the University of Notre Dame in October, the
first time in the stadium’s 88-year history that an artist of his magnitude has
performed there. Fans across the country will get to experience the show on the
small screen this holiday season as a concert special. (12/2, CBS)
5.
‘Amy Grant’s Tennessee Christmas’: Amy
Grant apparently loves Christmas. In addition to her annual block of
holiday shows at the Ryman in Nashville, the country/gospel singer will have
her own special on Hallmark. ‘Tennessee Christmas features performances from
her, her husband Vince
Gill and special guests Kellie Pickler and Michael W. Smith. (12/3,
Hallmark)
6.
‘CMA Country Christmas’: Another yearly
tradition, the Country Music Association will be airing their ‘CMA Country
Christmas’ again this year. Reba
McEntire hosts for the second year in a row, with a list of performers new
and established lending their voices to holiday classics. Artists performing
this year include McEntire, Tony Bennett & Diana Krall, Dan & Shay, Brett
Eldredge, Martina McBride, Dustin Lynch, Amy Grant, Brad Paisley, Lindsey
Stirling, Old Dominion and more. (12/10, ABC)
7.
‘Hollywood Christmas Parade’: The west-coast’s equivalent
to the Thanksgiving Parade in New York, the ‘Hollywood Christmas Parade’
marches through the heart of Hollywood to ring in the holiday season and you’ll
be able to see every detail on the small screen. Erik Estrada and Laura
McKenzie host the broadcast, which will feature balloons, floats and
performances of all kinds, including a 100th anniversary tribute to ‘Ripley’s
Believe It Or Not.’ Musical performances include ‘American Idol’ alums Kimberly
Caldwell-Harvey, Mikalah Gordon, Ruben Studdard, Blake Lewis, Elliot Yamin and
David Archuleta, Ashanti,
Claire Dunn, The Tearaways and supergroup Band of MerryMakers. (12/14, The CW)
8.
‘iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2018’: iHeartRadio
begins its annual Jingle Ball tour tonight, bringing the year’s hottest artists
to an arena near you over the next three weeks. Artists on the tour include
Cardi B, Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello, Calvin
Harris, Dua Lipa, Kalid, Alessia Cara, Bebe Rexha, Meghan Trainor, Sabrina
Carpenter, G Easy, Bazzi and more (though the line-up differs depending on the
particular stop). If you can’t make these shows, The CW will be airing an amalgam
of performances as a special this holiday season. (12/16, The CW)
9.
‘Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade’:
Disney continues their holiday domination with their annual Christmas day
parade. The broadcast will feature the same performers as their ‘Magical
Holiday Celebration’ a month earlier performing different songs, except with
all the fanfare of a parade. (12/25, ABC)
Featuring concerts, parades, tree lightings and more, music is
at the heart of many of the season’s holiday specials. Check out some of the musical
Christmas and holiday specials mentioned above and feel the holiday spirit.
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Find holiday music and much more at Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s
top new independent record shop. We have thousands of titles in a vast array of
genres to choose from. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records,
CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview
location or online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our
selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.
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