CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS WITH "CMA COUNTRY CHRISTMAS" HOSTED BY JENNIFER NETTLES

Two-Hour Special Tapes Friday, November 7 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Featuring Performances By Dan + Shay, Brett Eldredge, Sara Evans, Lucy Hale, Hunter Hayes, Little Big Town, Idina Menzel, Nettles, LeAnn Rimes, Michael W. Smith, and Carrie Underwood

Nashville Audience Encouraged to Bring an Unwrapped Toy to the Taping to Make the Holidays Brighter for Children in Need

Some of the most powerful and emotionally moving voices in music come together to celebrate the holidays on "CMA Country Christmas," which tapes in front of a live audience Friday, November 7 (7:30 p.m., CT) at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. The special, which features Jennifer Nettles hosting for the fifth year, airs this holiday season on the ABC Television Network.

"After being the host of 'CMA Country Christmas,' for five years now, it is hard to pick one thing I love about it. There are so many fun moments," Nettles said. "Whether it is the performances or duets, getting to perform Christmas songs with such great artists is really fun for me. It's really a fun show all around."

Artists scheduled to perform and celebrate the season include Dan + Shay, Brett Eldredge, Sara Evans, Lucy Hale, Hunter Hayes, Little Big Town, Idina Menzel, Nettles, LeAnn Rimes, Michael W. Smith, and Carrie Underwood.

"The taping for 'CMA Country Christmas' is a jump-start for the holiday season and has become a family tradition for many Nashville residents," said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. "Adding to the celebration is our annual toy drive, which provides new toys for children in need, shining a spotlight on a worthy endeavor in a way that reflects the values and giving nature of our artists, the industry, and this city."

For the third year, audience members are being encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to the taping to help make the holidays brighter for Nashville area children. The Nashville-based non-profit group Generosity will have volunteers on site with specially marked bins to collect toys beginning at 5:00 p.m., CT on November 7. In 2013, the group collected more than 5,000 toys.

"Our artist community is extremely generous and so are our fans," Trahern said. "It is our goal to make sure no child goes without a present this Christmas and we are grateful to our partners at Generosity for helping to make this a dream come true for children in Nashville."

Tickets for "CMA Country Christmas" are on sale now and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com, by calling (800) 745-3000 or in person at the Bridgestone Arena Box Office, located at 501 Broadway (corner of Fifth Avenue and Broadway, Nashville). Tickets for "CMA Country Christmas" are $25 for Upper-Level seating and $50 for Lower- and Club-Level seating. Ticket prices include tax, but exclude applicable service fees.

"CMA Country Christmas" is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the Executive Producer, Paul Miller is the Director, and David Wild is the writer. The special will be shot in high definition and broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.

About Generosity: Generosity was founded in 2010 by running partners Shaun Daugherty and Bethni Hemphill as a place to fundraise for charities close to their heart, and to volunteer in their community and around the world. Their principal mission is to ease the suffering of others by responding to crisis as well as serving the ongoing needs of the community. Generosity serves a wide variety of local, national, and international charities including Toys for Tots, The Bridge Ministry, Blood:Water Mission, Show Hope, and Room In The Inn.

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