CMA Country Christmas

The Vince Gill/Amy Grant marriage showed no signs of strain after Gill’s earlier indiscretion with Miss Piggy at the ‘CMA Country Christmas’ special on ABC. The two turned in one of the more intimate performances of the evening, singing Grant’s ‘Breath of Heaven.’

As Sugarland‘s Jennifer Nettles remarked, Martina McBride has one of the best voices in music — not just in country, but in all genres. McBride practically floated as she sang her rendition of ‘Please Come Home for Christmas’ on the Dec. 1 ‘CMA Country Christmas’ special, which we’d argue could be the performance of the evening.

Rascal Flatts sang a haunting rendition of ‘Mary Did You Know’ at the ‘CMA Country Christmas’ special. In an evening filled with fun and laughter — including an appearance by Miss Piggy — the song added a spiritual tone to the evening

After taking the stage earlier in the evening with Little Big Town on the airing of ‘CMA Country Christmas’ on Thursday night, Keith Urban returned to the spotlight to sing a sentimental and moving rendition of ‘The Christmas Song.’

Viewers in the audience and at home could only watch in amazement as two of the finest guitarists around traded licks during Thursday night’s ‘CMA Country Christmas’ special on ABC. Brian Setzer sang while Brad Paisley took lead on ‘Sleigh Ride’ and ‘Boogie Woogie Santa Claus.’

Faith Hill knows the true meaning of Christmas — it’s making sure the reindeer are fed. After spilling the intimate details of her holiday traditions with her country cowboy husband Tim McGraw during the ‘CMA Country Christmas’ special, the blonde songstress laid down a good kind of sleepy song: the classic ‘Little Drummer Boy.’