With Christmas just around the corner, the Country Music Association revealed performers for its annual holiday special, "CMA Country Christmas." Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Lady A, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Thomas Rhett, and Darius Rucker with Lindsey Stirling take the stage for a spirited night of festive classics. Announced on ABC's "Good Morning America," husband and wife team Rhett and Lauren Akins, a New York Times bestselling author, made their TV hosting debut together during the 11^th annual music celebration.

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"The idea for this year's show was to do a throwback of the great Christmas specials of the 1960s and 1970s," says Robert Deaton, executive producer, "CMA Country Christmas." "Andy Williams, Perry Como, Bing Crosby, Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra all had classic Christmas specials where the viewer was invited into the homes of the host to celebrate the holiday like a best friend coming to visit. That was what we wanted to create for this year's show. Instead of a big flashy production, we took a page from those iconic specials to say, 'Come relax, and let's celebrate the holiday together.'"

Filmed for the first time without a live audience this past September, "CMA Country Christmas" is a production of the Country Music Association. Deaton is the executive producer and writer. Paul Miller is the director. CMA partnered with Balsam Hill, stunningly realistic Christmas trees and beautifully designed holiday décor, to decorate the "CMA Country Christmas" stage again this year.

About "CMA Country Christmas": Starting in 2010, "CMA Country Christmas" rings in the holiday season annually with a show full of festive classics and one-of-a-kind musical performances. The event is filmed in Nashville and airs each holiday season on ABC. ABC is the network home to the CMA Awards and CMA's summer concert TV special "CMA Fest."