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

Featuring Performances by Trace Adkins, Luke Bryan, Sheryl Crow, Lucy Hale, Nettles, Jake Owen, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker and Michael W. Smith, The Two-Hour Special Tapes Nov. 8 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville

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

NASHVILLE - 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 8 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. The special, which features Jennifer Nettles as host for the fourth year, will air this holiday season on the ABC Television Network.

"It's really a joy for me to get to host 'CMA Country Christmas,'" Nettles said. "I have so much fun doing it! I love the holiday season, and for me to get to be a part of this show for the fourth year in a row is a really big honor. What I love about doing this gig is that it's the closest I've gotten to the old, classic television variety shows. It is entertainment that everybody in the family can find fun, and I hope it's something that keeps happening for years and years and years."

Artists scheduled to perform and celebrate the season with songs and stories include Trace Adkins, Luke Bryan, Sheryl Crow, Lucy Hale, Nettles, Jake Owen, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker and Michael W. Smith.

"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 CMA Board President Ed Hardy. "Adding to the celebration is our A Gift for All Toy Drive, which provides new toys for homeless children, shining a spotlight on a worthy endeavor in a way that reflects the values and heart of our artists, the industry, and this city."

For the second 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 the toys, which will be distributed to homeless families this holiday season. In 2012, the group collected more than 5,000 toys.

Volunteers from Generosity will start accepting toys Friday, Nov. 8 at 1:00 PM/CT at the Bridgestone Arena Plaza. A ticket to the show is not necessary to drop off a toy.

"Our artists are extremely generous and so are our fans," Hardy 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" cost $50 for Lower and Club Level reserved seating; $25 for Upper Level reserved seating. Ticket prices include tax, but exclude applicable service fees.

For updates and information visit CMAcrhistmas.com.

"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 2012 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, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Special Olympics, and Habitat for Humanity. Generosity supports programs in American Samoa that work with children and teenagers to better their lives through sport camps, mentoring, and tutoring.

Chevrolet(TM) is the Official Ride of Country Music. American Airlines is the Official Airline of the CMA Awards.