Scotty McCreery

"Christmas With Scotty McCreery & Friends" on GAC SATURDAY

Country star Scotty McCreery invited friends Gloriana, Jana Kramer and Brett Eldredge to join him on his first holiday special, Christmas with Scotty McCreery & Friends premiering Saturday, December 1, 11:00 p.m./Eastern on Great American Country.  In addition to the beautiful sounds of traditional Christmas music and shared holiday memories, the true spirit of giving shines through two nonprofits of special meaning to McCreery and friends.

McCreery performs “Christmas In Heaven,” an original song from his holiday disc, Christmas with Scotty McCreery,  “Let it Snow” and “Santa Claus Is Back In Town;”  Gloriana performs “O Holy Night,” and “Silent Night;” Kramer performs “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and “Winter Wonderland;” and Eldredge performs “Mary Did You Know” and “Jingle Bell Rock.”  “Growing up Christmas was a special time of year for my family, probably our favorite time,” says McCreery . “It’s nice that we all get together as a family and spend time together.”

“For me personally, ‘Oh Holy Night’ is a song I used to sing in church when I was younger,” says Gloriana’s Rachel Reinert of the trio’s holiday recording.  “This song brings in the spirituality of Christmas and I think that’s why we all connect with it.”  In addition to musical performances, the artists wrapped gifts for specially selected angels from the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program and encouraged audience members to pick a recipient from the Angel Tree set up in the studio. “I have so many holiday memories that bring a smile to my face but for these kids they might not get the gifts I took for granted growing up,” McCreery says while wrapping presents.

It wasn’t easy for Jana Kramer to narrow down her favorite holiday tunes. “I’m so happy to be singing ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.’” she says. “It’s so vulnerable and special.”  As for Brett Eldredge’s performance of “Mary Did You Know,” he says, "There’s no mistaking it when I hear the first few notes of the guitar in that song, it immediately puts me in the Christmas spirit!"

McCreery’s also been involved with Samaritan’s Purse/Operation Christmas Child for as long as he can remember and shares special footage from a recent trip to the Dominican Republic where he saw first hand the good the organization does as he handed out specially packed holiday gift boxes “I’m just glad that I can be on the other end of it now.”

(l to r:)  Brett Eldredge, Jana Kramer, Scotty McCreery, Rachel Reinert, Tom Gossin, Mike Gossin.