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The holiday TV season truly begins when CMA Country Christmas returns to screens – and the 2025 edition brings Nashville, Louisiana charm and a stacked country line-up to millions of living rooms. If you’re wondering exactly what time it starts, who is performing and how to watch it free without missing a song, here’s your complete guide.
What time does CMA Country Christmas 2025 start?
CMA Country Christmas 2025 airs on Tuesday, 2 December 2025 at 9/8c on ABC.
- Eastern Time (ET): 9:00 pm
- Central Time (CT): 8:00 pm
- Pacific Time (PT): 6:00 pm
The special was filmed in Nashville, Tennessee and is designed as a one-night holiday escape, mixing classic carols, country hits and brand-new Christmas songs performed in front of a live audience.
How to watch CMA Country Christmas 2025 free in the US
The easiest way to watch the show completely free is the traditional one: tune in to your local ABC station at airtime. Anyone with an over-the-air antenna or basic network access can watch without paying for an extra subscription.
On-demand streaming the next day
Taped in front of a live audience in Nashville, first-time co-hosts Lauren Daigle and Jordan Davis bring an easy warmth and festive charm to the stage, guiding viewers through an evening of country takes on Christmas classics, new holiday songs and feel-good performances. The 2025 edition of CMA Country Christmas airs on Tuesday, December 2, at 9/8c on ABC, with the special available to stream the following day on Hulu and Disney+. CMA Country Christmas is produced by the Country Music Association, with Robert Deaton serving as executive producer, Milton Sneed as director and Jon Macks as writer.
Watching outside the United States
International rights differ by territory, but recent editions of the special have been picked up by broadcasters and streaming platforms in the UK, Europe and other markets. Viewers outside the US should check local listings or search for “CMA Country Christmas” on their regional Disney+ or partner services around 3–4 December.
For the most accurate and up-to-date viewing options in your country, the official CMA website keeps a dedicated page for the special, including news posts and performance clips: CMA Country Christmas official site.
Who’s hosting CMA Country Christmas 2025?
This year’s show is co-hosted for the first time by two Louisiana stars:
- Lauren Daigle – the multi-Grammy-winning singer known for her crossover hits and powerhouse vocals.
- Jordan Davis – the country chart-topper behind “Buy Dirt” and “Next Thing You Know”.
The pair bring a relaxed, playful energy to the stage, trading jokes between songs and stepping into the spotlight themselves for major musical moments.
CMA Country Christmas 2025 performers and songs
The confirmed line-up for CMA Country Christmas 2025 blends established country names, rising stars and soul-gospel legends. Here are the acts viewers can expect to see across the night:
- Lauren Daigle – leading a joyful medley of Christmas classics with Preservation Hall Jazz Band.
- Jordan Davis – joining Little Big Town on a new take of “Go Tell It on the Mountain”.
- Lady A – performing “Angels (Glory to God)” and “Wouldn’t Be Christmas”.
- Little Big Town – also returning with “If We Make It Through December”.
- Riley Green – “Christmas to Me”.
- Parker McCollum – “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”, marking his CMA Country Christmas debut.
- Megan Moroney – “All I Want for Christmas Is a Cowboy”.
- Preservation Hall Jazz Band – New Orleans-flavoured arrangements alongside Lauren Daigle.
- BeBe Winans – “We Are the Reason”.
- Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks with BeBe Winans – “Children, Go Where I Send Thee”.
Together, the performances lean heavily into soulful storytelling, rootsy arrangements and polished TV spectacle – more about warm holiday atmosphere than pyrotechnics.
How long is the special and will there be an encore?
The broadcast runs for roughly an hour in primetime, slotted after ABC’s other holiday programming. In previous years ABC has scheduled encore showings later in December, and on-demand streaming via Hulu and Disney+ effectively acts as a permanent replay option throughout the season.
If you plan to catch an encore on traditional television, it’s worth checking your local ABC listings closer to Christmas week for any late-night reruns.
Why CMA Country Christmas still matters in 2025
In a crowded holiday TV calendar, CMA Country Christmas has carved out a loyal audience by combining the polish of a big awards show with the intimacy of a church-hall concert. Unlike some heavily scripted variety specials, this one leans into live-band arrangements, visible musicians on stage and genuine artist-to-artist collaborations.
For country fans – and for viewers who simply want something wholesome to have on while decorating the tree – the 2025 special offers a rare mix of faith-rooted songs, classic standards and new tracks that could become future seasonal staples.
However you watch – free over the air, via a streaming trial or on demand the next day – the key is simple: mark Tuesday, 2 December 2025 at 9/8c on your calendar and be ready to let Nashville’s biggest festive night soundtrack your evening.
For readers following other global stories this week, see our full breakdown on Malaysia Airlines MH370 search resumes in 2025 .
