Lady A to Host 2026 ‘CMA Country Christmas’ on ABC
By Claire Whitman
Lady A will host the 17th annual “CMA Country Christmas” special, bringing the long-running country holiday program back to ABC in December.
The Country Music Association announced the plans on Nov. 4, 2026, confirming that the special will air Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 9/8c on ABC. It will also be available to stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu, according to the CMA.
The 2026 edition was filmed in front of a live audience in Nashville, keeping the show closely tied to the city at the center of country music.
Lady A takes the hosting role
Lady A will guide this year’s program and also appear among the performers, according to the Country Music Association.
For viewers, the host choice gives the special a familiar country presence at the center of the broadcast. Lady A’s role places the group both in front of the audience as hosts and within the music lineup for the night.
The CMA did not frame the program as a competition or awards event. As in past holiday television formats, the focus is on seasonal performances and a shared country music setting.
The 2026 performance lineup
The CMA announced a broad lineup for the special, spanning country, gospel, pop-country and instrumental performance.
Scheduled performers include:
- BeBe Winans
- Dan + Shay
- Debbie Winans
- Grace Bowers
- Jordan Davis
- Lady A
- Lindsey Stirling
- Russell Dickerson
- Trisha Yearwood
- Zach Top
That mix gives the broadcast several different entry points for viewers. Longtime country fans will recognize established names such as Trisha Yearwood and Lady A, while the bill also includes newer and cross-genre performers.
The inclusion of BeBe Winans and Debbie Winans also brings a gospel-rooted presence to the special. Lindsey Stirling adds another musical texture to the lineup, while Dan + Shay, Jordan Davis, Russell Dickerson, Grace Bowers and Zach Top round out the announced slate.
When and where to watch
“CMA Country Christmas” airs Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2026, at 9/8c on ABC.
For viewers who do not watch live, the special will stream the following day on Disney+ and Hulu, according to the CMA announcement.
The timing places the program at the front end of December’s holiday television calendar, when networks and streaming platforms begin rolling out seasonal music and family programming.
For country fans, the special is also another national showcase for Nashville-based holiday music, with the 2026 production filmed before a live audience in the city.
For Talk Radio 107.7 listeners, it is one more date to note as the holiday entertainment schedule starts to fill in.
Source: Country Music Association