CARRIE UNDERWOOD RETURNS TO FOX IN "CARRIE UNDERWOOD: AN ALL-STAR HOLIDAY SPECIAL," (working title) A TWO-HOUR MUSICAL EVENT AIRING MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, ON FOX

Nigel Lythgoe and Adam Shankman to Produce and Direct the Special

Multi-platinum recording artist and Grammy Award winner Carrie Underwood will headline CARRIE UNDERWOOD: AN ALL-STAR HOLIDAY SPECIAL (working title), a two-hour variety special airing Monday, Dec. 7 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. Underwood will perform new music from her upcoming album as well as previous hits and holiday classics. She will be joined on stage by special musical guests and chart-topping artists including Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley and David Cook. Additional guest stars and performers to be announced.

Carrie Underwood rose to fame as the winner of AMERICAN IDOL Season Four. Now a four-time Grammy Award winner, the 2009 Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year, the reigning Country Music Association (CMA) and Academy of Country Music (ACM) Female Vocalist of the Year, Underwood is a bona fide country music superstar. Her newest album, "Play On," for which she collaborated with producer Mark Bright, will be released November 3 on 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville. The album's debut single, "Cowboy Casanova," is the fastest-rising hit of the year on country radio, exploding with massive first-week sales of 110,236 digital copies. The achievement marks Underwood's claim as the only solo country artist to debut a digital single this year above the 100,000 units mark � a feat she's accomplished not once, but twice. Underwood also found success with her single "Home Sweet Home," which served as the farewell music on AMERICAN IDOL last season. Earlier this year, Underwood became the first country artist in history to have 10 No. 1 singles from her first two albums, including "I Told You So," "Just a Dream," "So Small," "All-American Girl" and "Last Name." To date, Underwood is the best-selling AMERICAN IDOL winner in the U.S. with album sales of more than 10 million. Underwood will also co-host the 43rd Annual CMA Awards this November.

Director, producer, choreographer and former dancer Nigel Lythgoe previously served as controller of entertainment and comedy at London Weekend Television. But it was the U.K. series, "Popstars," that made him a household name in his native country. In 2007, Lythgoe joined Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment, where he produced "Pop Idol," which was later spun-off in the U.S. as AMERICAN IDOL. Lythgoe's role as executive producer of AMERICAN IDOL ultimately paved the way for his work on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE. Today, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE is broadcast in 147 countries, and 16 countries have their own version.

One of the most commercially successful filmmakers of his generation, Adam Shankman's directorial credits include "Bedtime Stories," "Hairspray," "A Walk To Remember" and "The Wedding Planner." His upcoming projects include "Sinbad" and "Bob: The Musical." In addition to directing, Shankman, along with his sister, Jennifer Gibgot, produce films through their shingle, Offspring Entertainment. Together they are currently producing "The Last Song," "Going The Distance" and "Step Up 3-D." Prior to becoming a director, Shankman attended The Juilliard School and was a dance and physical-comedy choreographer who put his creative stamp on many well-known films including "Boogie Nights" and "The Addams Family." Shankman also serves as a judge on the hit series SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE.

CARRIE UNDERWOOD: AN ALL-STAR HOLIDAY SPECIAL (working title), a production of Big Red 2 Entertainment, is executive-produced by Simon Fuller, Nigel Lythgoe and Adam Shankman. Shankman and Lythgoe also serve as directors of the special.

Big Red 2 Entertainment is a joint venture between Nigel Lythgoe and Simon Fuller. Lythgoe, who served as executive producer of AMERICAN IDOL for seven seasons, is a co-creator, judge and executive producer of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE. Fuller, the founder and CEO of 19 Entertainment, is the creator and executive producer of AMERICAN IDOL as well as the co-creator and executive producer of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE. Fuller is a fan of Manchester United, while Lythgoe supports Liverpool FC. The teams' red uniforms inspired the name Big Red 2.

Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment Ltd. is recognized as a lead creator, provider and promoter of globally successful entertainment and music brands of today. The company has attracted a unique team of exceptionally creative executives, who work together to integrate and leverage activity across television, sports, film, touring, merchandising, music publishing, recording and artist management. 19 Founder/CEO Simon Fuller has developed and managed some of the biggest entertainment properties of our time, with credits that include the creation of TV phenomenon AMERICAN IDOL, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE and the HBO series "Little Britain USA." 19's unique talent includes legendary musical icon Annie Lennox, country music sensation Carrie Underwood, pop group sensation Spice Girls, IDOL alumni Chris Daughtry, David Cook, Kris Allen, Adam Lambert and Allison Iraheta, soccer icon David Beckham and tennis pro Andy Murray.