ABC’s Repeat “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” Beats NBC’s Original Comedies At 8pm and Posts the Net’s 2nd-Best Young Adult Number in the Hour This Season Finishing as the Most-Watched Show in its Slot, ABC’s “CMA Country Christmas” Jumps Year to Year by 23% Among Total Viewers and by 50% Among Adults 18-49 ABC’s “CMA Country Christmas” Concert Outperforms CBS’ “Grammy Nominations Concert” from the Previous Night by Strong ... Read more

Appointments Take Immediate Effect   The Country Music Association held the annual Board of Directors election meeting in Nashville this week. The new Board year begins immediately.   Steve Buchanan, Gaylord Entertainment Senior Vice President of Media and Entertainment, completes his term as Chairman of the Board and current CMA Board President Gary Overton, Sony Music Entertainment Nashville Chairman and CEO, now assumes the position of CMA Board Chairman. Troy ... Read more

With help of special guest guitarist Brad Paisley, legendary American guitarist, singer, and songwriter Brian Setzer will put his twist on Christmas favorites "Sleigh Ride" and "Boogie Woogie Santa Claus" during "CMA Country Christmas," airing tomorrow (9:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.   Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles will host the two-hour holiday extravaganza with performances from "American Idol" runner up Lauren Alaina, Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, ... Read more

Country Music’s biggest stars share their family traditions and treasured holiday memories on “CMA Country Christmas,” which airs Thursday, Dec. 1 (9:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.   Hosted for the second year by Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland, the special includes performances from “American Idol” runner up Lauren Alaina, Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, “American Idol” winner Scotty McCreery, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, ... Read more

Following her long awaited comeback on "The 45th Annual CMA Awards," former CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Faith Hill brought the crowd to its feet with an a cappella rendition of "Little Drummer Boy" during the taping for "CMA Country Christmas." The two-hour special hosted by Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland, airing Thursday, Dec. 1 (9:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.   The holiday showcase features performances from "American Idol" ... Read more

The Country Music Association’s very popular CMA Songwriters Series is coming to the U.K. and Ireland for the first time with special performances in February 2012 scheduled for Belfast and Dublin, CMA Chief Executive Officer Steve Moore announced today. The international tour will be known as CMA & BMI Present the CMA Songwriter Series. “The CMA Songwriter Series began in 2005 in New York and has expanded to cities across ... Read more

Online Educational Series Can Be Found On CMA’s Member Web Site, My.CMAworld.com; Archived Episodes Posted On CMAworld.com As Country Music continues to gain in popularity worldwide, CMA has added a new episode to its popular educational series, “CMA Industry InSite.” “Country Goes Global” discusses strategies to help artists gain a foothold “across the pond.”   The 19th episode, “Country Goes Global,” is available now and features interviews with artist/songwriter Jace ... Read more

Kellie Pickler and a bevy of dancing elves rock the stage when she performs "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" during "CMA Country Christmas," airing Thursday, Dec. 1 (9:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.   Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles hosts the two-hour holiday extravaganza, which also includes performances from "American Idol" runner up Lauren Alaina, Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, "American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery, Rascal Flatts, Darius ... Read more

Exclusive Interviews and Performance Footage Available in a Video Highlights Package Via FTP Site Today and Via Satellite on Tuesday CMA will provide media outlets with two ways to access a video highlights package containing performance footage and interviews with performers appearing on “CMA Country Christmas.” “CMA Country Christmas,” hosted by Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland, will air Thursday, Dec. 1 (9:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network. The two-hour special ... Read more

Country group Rascal Flatts performs two Christmas classics -- "White Christmas" and "Mary Did You Know" -- during "CMA Country Christmas," airing Thursday, Dec. 1 (9:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.   Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles hosts the two-hour holiday extravaganza with performances from "American Idol" runner up Lauren Alaina, Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, "American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery, Kellie Pickler, Darius Rucker, Brian Setzer with ... Read more

"American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery wows the crowd with his signature baritone on the Christmas classic "The First Noel" during "CMA Country Christmas," airing Thursday, Dec. 1 (9:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.   Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles hosts the two-hour holiday extravaganza with performances from "American Idol" runner up Lauren Alaina, Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Brian Setzer with special ... Read more

Little Big Town and special guest guitarist Keith Urban perform "Santa Claus Is Back In Town" during "CMA Country Christmas," airing Thursday, Dec. 1 (9:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network. The nine-time CMA Award nominated group later returns to the stage with a harmonious rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."   Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles hosts the two-hour holiday extravaganza with performances from "American Idol" runner up Lauren Alaina, ... Read more

Vince Gill will be pulling triple duty during "CMA Country Christmas," airing Thursday, Dec. 1 (9:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.   Gill will perform the upbeat Christmas classic "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" and later join Miss Piggy in a special duet of "Baby, It's Cold Outside." Gill also contributes background vocals to his wife Amy Grant for "Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)." Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles ... Read more

Best-selling Contemporary Christian singer Amy Grant will be joined by her husband Vince Gill for a breathtaking performance of “Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song)” during “CMA Country Christmas,” airing Thursday, Dec. 1 (9:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.   Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles will host the two-hour holiday extravaganza with performances from “American Idol” runner up Lauren Alaina, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, “American Idol” winner Scotty McCreery, Kellie ... Read more

Country Music star Darius Rucker performs a rockin' version of the Christmas hit "Winter Wonderland" during "CMA Country Christmas," airing Thursday, Dec. 1 (9:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network. Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles will host the two-hour holiday extravaganza with performances from "American Idol" runner up Lauren Alaina, Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, "American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Brian Setzer with special ... Read more

The Middle Tennessee State University CMA EDU chapter welcomed Craig Campbell, President of Campbell Entertainment Group, as a guest speaker during last night's meeting. The students received an inside look at the role of a publicist including how an artist's publicity activities are booked and coordinated with the record label and management. Campbell also gave a brief overview of his career in the industry and offered advice to the students ... Read more

Four-time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Martina McBride rings in the holidays, with a soaring rendition of "Please Come Home for Christmas" during "CMA Country Christmas," airing Thursday, Dec. 1 (9:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network. Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles will host the two-hour holiday extravaganza with performances from "American Idol" runner up Lauren Alaina, Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, "American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery, Kellie Pickler, ... Read more

The wildly popular CMA Songwriters Series returned to the Library of Congress' Coolidge Auditorium last night in Washington, D.C. with performances from Clint Black, Patty Loveless, Tim Nichols and host Bob DiPiero. The packed house was filled with Washington dignitaries including Susan H. Vita, Chief of the Library's Music Division. Read more

The iconic CMA Music Festival will once again take over the Downtown Nashville campus for four days this summer, Thursday-Sunday, June 7-10, 2012. The event that USA Today calls "the crown jewel of Country Music festivals" started in 1972 as Fan Fair®. More than 40 years later, the legendary festival has become Nashville's signature music event, which annually attracts thousands of fans from all 50 states and around the globe ... Read more

"American Idol" runner up Lauren Alaina will perform "Grown-Up Christmas List" during "CMA Country Christmas," airing Thursday, Dec. 1 (9:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.   Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles will host the two-hour holiday extravaganza with performances from Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, "American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Brian Setzer with special guest Brad Paisley, Sugarland, Keith Urban, and Vince ... Read more