NBC RINGS IN THE HOLIDAYS WITH BLAKE SHELTON'S FIRST CHRISTMAS SPECIAL, "BLAKE SHELTON'S NOT SO FAMILY CHRISTMAS," ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 3 (10-11 P.M. ET)
Grammy Winners Kelly Clarkson, Miranda Lambert and Reba Will Join Shelton as He Sings Classics from his New Holiday Album, "Cheers, It's Christmas," and a Very Special Duet with His Mother, Dorothy Shackleford
NEW YORK, NY - November 13, 2012 - Blake Shelton (NBC's "The Voice") will host his first Christmas special, "Blake Shelton's Not So Family Christmas," a star-studded event airing on Monday, December 3 (10-11 p.m. ET). The CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year and reigning ACM and CMA Male Vocalist of the year is joined by Grammy Award-winning guest stars Kelly Clarkson, Miranda Lambert and Reba on songs including "Let It Snow," "There's a New Kid in Town," "Oklahoma Christmas" and "Home."
The special will also feature a very special duet with Shelton's mother, Dorothy Shackleford, with whom he co-wrote the song "Time for Me to Come Home," as well as a number of comedy bits featuring special guests Christina Aguilera (NBC's "The Voice"), Larry the Cable Guy and Jay Leno (host of NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno").
"I love Christmas music," said Shelton. "I listen to it year-round. I had always wanted to do a Christmas album so getting to do 'Cheers, It's Christmas' was exciting for me, and then to have NBC let me do a special around the CD, well, I still can't believe it. I am so proud of the performances on the show, the skits are hilarious and the icing on the cake was having the opportunity to perform with my mom, a song we co-wrote together. Christmas has always been about family to me so having my mom and Miranda there -- that made it Christmas."
Shelton is one of the "most versatile of contemporary country singers" according to The New York Times. CMA Entertainer of the Year, reigning ACM and CMA Male Vocalist of the Year, and with seven consecutive #1 singles -- four of which are off his 2012 Grammy-nominated album, "Red River Blue" - Shelton is the voice of country music. "Red River Blue" debuted at #1 on Soundscan's Top Current Albums chart and Soundscan Top Country Albums chart, with the Associated Press calling the album "the best album of his career."
Shelton's infectious multi-week #1 hit "Honey Bee" holds the record for the fastest-selling digital platinum single for a male country solo artist. The single held the #1 spot on the Billboard Country chart for four weeks in a row with over 40 million in audience. No country artist has held this record in almost seven years. Shelton now has eleven #1 hits and has not had a single peak outside the Top Ten since 2007. What country fans have long known, the rest of the world learned with "The Voice," the NBC blockbuster from which Blake has emerged as "the breakout star," according to The New York Times.
"Blake Shelton's Not So Family Christmas" is produced by Irwin Entertainment. John Irwin and Narvel Blackstock are executive producers.
ABOUT THE GUESTS
Christina Aguilera:
Singer, songwriter, performer, producer, director and actress Aguilera is one of the most accomplished performers of the last decade, having sold more than 30 million albums worldwide, achieved four #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and won five Grammy awards. She has also received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has the prestigious honor of being the only artist under the age of 30 included in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 greatest singers of all time. In 2011, she entered the world of TV as a coach on NBC's Emmy Award-nominated show "The Voice." Aguilera continues to use her voice for good. She has served as global spokesperson for Yum! Brands' World Hunger Relief effort since 2009 where her participation has helped raised $115 million for WFP and others, providing 460 million meals and saving millions of lives. Aguilera's latest album "Lotus" will be released on November 13, 2012.
Kelly Clarkson:
Since bursting onto the music scene 10 years ago, Clarkson has released five studio albums ("Thankful," "Breakaway," "My December," "All I Ever Wanted," "Stronger"), sold over 20 million albums worldwide, 10 million albums in the U.S. and has had 10 singles in the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart. She is the recipient of two Grammy Awards, four American Music Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards, two Academy of Country Music Awards, one Country Music Association Award and 12 Billboard Music Awards. Clarkson's most recent effort, "Stronger," debuted at #2 on both the Billboard Top 200 and Digital Albums Chart. The album is certified Platinum by the R.I.A.A. and produced the smash singles, "Mr. Know It All" and "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" which marks Clarkson's ninth and 10th Top 10 hit. "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" was #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Chart for two consecutive weeks (three weeks total) marking her third #1 on the Hot 100 chart after 2002's "A Moment Like This" and 2009's "My Life Would Suck Without You." Clarkson was recently a mentor on ABC's "Duets" as well as a guest mentor for Team Blake on NBC's "The Voice." Clarkson was recently nominated for a 2012 CMA Award for Female Vocalist of the Year. She is set to release Greatest Hits - Chapter 1 on November 19, which will feature three new tracks as well as a compilation of some of her greatest hits to date.
Miranda Lambert:
The fascination with Lambert began in earnest when she was a humble yet feisty runner-up on "Nashville Star" in 2003, standing out as the most independent and least likely of all reality-show contestants. Sony Nashville quickly signed her with the understanding that, even though she was still a teen, she had the moxie and know-how to write many of her own songs. Reflective singles like "Famous in a Small Town" proved her wise beyond her tender years, and rowdy ones like "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" proved her bold beyond all expectations of just how fresh a country freshman should be. Lambert made history when "Four the Record" debuted at #1 making her the first artist in the 47 year history of the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart to have all four of their first four albums debut at that spot. Lambert is country's reigning female vocalist of the year, as bestowed by both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music. She's won the prized album of the year trophy from both organizations, as well. She received the top country female vocal performance honor at the Grammy Awards for "The House That Built Me." And, lest all her honorifics be so high-minded, she's been named one of People magazine's Most Beautiful People and one of Maxim's Hottest Women of Country.
Reba:
One of the most successful entertainers, Reba has sold over 56 million albums worldwide. As a leading lady in the genre, the multi-platinum recording artist for The Valory Music Co. has been inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame and earned an ACM Career Achievement honor. She has won 15 American Music Awards; 13 ACM Awards; nine People's Choice Awards; 7 CMA Awards and 2 Grammy Awards, in addition to hosting the ACM Awards 14 times. Reba's reign of #1 hits spans four decades and Billboard, Country Aircheck and Mediabase recognized her as the biggest female hitmaker in country music history. The multimedia superstar earned her 64th Top 10 hit and her 35th #1 with "Turn On The Radio," from her most recent album, "All the Women I Am." Reba's run of sales successes has garnered her in the upper echelon of #1 albums in the genre. During her last tour - "All the Women I Am" -- both Pollstar and Billboard's Boxscore - the touring industry's leading trade outlets - named Reba the #1 female country touring artist, selling a combined total of over nine million tickets. The superstar has earned over three million fans on Facebook, propelling her into an elite group of Country artists who've achieved the popularity milestone. The Oklahoma native is also an acclaimed film, TV and Broadway actress. On November 2, she returned to television with the ABC sitcom, "Malibu Country."
For more information on the "Blake Shelton's Not So Family Christmas" visit NBC.com's "Movies & Specials" site: http://www.nbc.com/specials.
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