IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFETIME HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING SLATE KICKS OFF SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, WITH MUSIC ICONS DOLLY PARTON AND BRIAN MCKNIGHT IN "A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS STORY"

Event Includes World Premieres of Seven All-New Movies in November and December Featuring Grammy(R) Award Nominees JORDIN SPARKS and CHRISTINA MILIAN, Grammy Winners ASHANTI and RANDY TRAVIS, Emmy(R) Award Winner ED ASNER, Golden Globe(R) nominees DELLA REESE and JUDD NELSON, MEL B, TATYANA ALI, DEBBY RYAN and Many Others

LOS ANGELES (October 11, 2013) - Good tidings we bring, to you and your TV, with the return of the holiday programming slate, It's a Wonderful Lifetime. Beginning on Saturday, November 9, at 8pm ET/PT, Lifetime launches a sleigh full of original programming led by musical icon and multiple Grammy(R) Award winner Dolly Parton (Nine to Five) and Grammy Award nominated R&B singer and producer Brian McKnight (American Dreams) in the Lifetime Original Movie A Country Christmas Story. The film follows a young Appalachian mountain girl (newcomer Desiree Ross, Park Bench) as she pursues her dream of becoming a country star against the wishes of her mother (Megyn Price, Rules of Engagement). Her journey to the stage at Dollywood with a singing competition hosted by Dolly Parton reunites her with her musician father (McKnight) and uncovers the musical legacy of African Americans in the world of country music. Mary Kay Place (Big Love) stars as her grandmother.

The holiday festivities will continue each Saturday night, with the world premieres of new movies featuring Grammy Award nominees Jordin Sparks (Sparkle, American Idol) and Christina Milian (The Voice), Grammy Award winners Ashanti (Army Wives) and Randy Travis, Emmy(R) Award winner Ed Asner (Up, Roots), Golden Globe(R) and Emmy nominee Della Reese (Touched by an Angel), Mel B (America's Got Talent) Tatyana Ali (Fresh Prince of Bel Air), Debby Ryan (Jessie) and many others.

World premiere movies during It's a Wonderful Lifetime are:

· Twelve Trees of Christmas - Saturday, November 16, at 8pm ET/PT

Local librarian Cherie (LINDY BOOTH) is ecstatic to celebrate the holiday season until she learns that a real estate developer, Tony (ROBBIN DUNN), has plans to demolish her library. Cherie rallies her neighbors to help save the library with a Christmas tree decorating contest. Not to be deterred, Tony joins the competition and recruits professional interior designer, Cordelia (MEL B), to help him beat Cherie. Will Cherie's devotion be enough to save her beloved library?

· Kristin's Christmas Past - Saturday, November 23, at 8pm ET/PT

Estranged from her family, Kristin (SHIRI APPLEBY) falls asleep alone on Christmas Eve only to wake up and discover it's Christmas morning 1996 and she has to relive the worst Christmas of her life! But this time, Kristin decides to do things differently to change not only her imperfect past, but also her less- than-perfect future. '80s icon and Golden Globe nominee JUDD NELSON returns to the screen alongside Disney starlet DEBBY RYAN and Revolution's ELIZABETH MITCHELL.

· Dear Secret Santa - Saturday, November 30, at 8pm ET/PT

After breaking up with her boyfriend, Jennifer (TATYANA ALI) moves back to the house she grew up in, bringing back memories of her recently deceased friend Jack (LAMORNE MORRIS). But after receiving a Christmas card from a secret admirer, she is stunned when she discovers the truth. JORDIN SPARKS, BILL COBBS, DELLA REESE and ERNIE HUDSON headline the star-studded cast.

· Christmas in the City - Saturday, December 7, at 8pm ET/PT

After closing down her small-town family business, Wendy (ASHLEY WILLIAMS) and her six-year-old daughter Grace move to the big city where an old friend offers her a job in the toy department of Wolmans. But her excitement is short lived when the store's new consultant, Teanna (ASHANTI), ruins the holiday spirit throughout the store by replacing Santa with a hunky male underwear model. It's only when Grace begins to lose faith in the holiday that Wendy realizes she must bring the true meaning of Christmas back to Wolmans before it is too late.

· Christmas on the Bayou - Saturday, December 14, at 8pm ET/PT

One Tree Hill alums HILARIE BURTON and TYLER HILTON reunite in this charming love story. When successful New York marketing executive Katherine (BURTON) discovers her workaholic ways are taking a toll on her eight-year-old son, Zac, she decides to spend Christmas with him and her mother, Lilly (MARKIE POST) in her home town on the bayou. When Caleb (HILTON) tries to rekindle a childhood romance and convince her to move back home, Katherine is torn between the bright lights of the big city and the quiet, gentler rhythms of her Southern roots. Only a Christmas miracle orchestrated by Papa Noel (ED ASNER) can steer her heart to her true home. Also stars RANDY TRAVIS.

· A Snow Globe Christmas - Saturday, December 14, at 10pm ET/PT

A cynical television executive (ALICIA WITT) looks at the perfect world inside a snow globe and rants about how the Christmas movies she produces fall short of real life. Upset, she tries to smash the globe in to pieces, but instead, ends up knocking herself in the head. She wakes up in a perfect snow-covered town, married to her ex, Ted (DONALD FAISON), with two kids. Trying desperately to return to her old life, she slowly realizes the importance of family and begins to find happiness. Also stars CHRISTINA MILIAN and TREVOR DONOVAN.

ABOUT LIFETIME

Lifetime is a premier female-focused entertainment destination dedicated to offering the highest quality original programming spanning scripted series, non-fiction series and movies. In 2012, as a result of its aggressive programming strategy that doubled the hours of original programming, Lifetime posted its strongest year-on-year growth among the key demographics in 10+ years, while also reaching its youngest median age in 16 years. Lifetime Television(R), LMN(R), Lifetime Real Women(R) and Lifetime Digital(TM) are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, LLC, a subsidiary of A+E Networks. A+E Networks is a joint venture of the Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst Corporation.