Christmas just got a whole lot smoother! NBC’s A Motown Christmas is bringing together the soulful sounds of Motor City and the festive spirit of the season for an unforgettable evening of music and celebration. This exciting two-hour special airs on Wednesday, December 11 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC, with streaming available the following day on Peacock.
Co-hosted by Smokey Robinson and Halle Bailey, the event will feature live performances from an incredible lineup of today’s top artists, including Ashanti, Andra Day, BeBe Winans, Jamie Foxx, JoJo, October London, MGK, Pentatonix, Jordin Sparks, and the cast of MJ The Musical. Fans can look forward to iconic Motown hits like “ABC,” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Dancing in the Streets,” “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “My Girl,” “Reach Out (I’ll Be There),” “Tears of a Clown,” “Stop (In the Name of Love),” and “Superstition.”
“Motown’s timeless hits have served as the soundtrack to American families for over eight decades,” said Jen Neal, Executive Vice President of Live Events & Specials at NBCUniversal Entertainment. “We’re thrilled to celebrate Motown’s iconic legacy with a festive holiday special.”
Award-winning actress and dancer Debbie Allen is one of the executive producers of the event and shared, “The music of Motown has always been magical, and we’re going to bring the joy of Christmas through song and dance!”
Highlights include Halle Bailey performing a medley honoring Diana Ross and the Supremes, Jamie Foxx leading a tribute to Stevie Wonder alongside BeBe Winans, Jordin Sparks, and Andra Day, and October London and JoJo paying homage to Marvin Gaye. MGK will offer a fresh take on “Last Christmas,” while Andra Day will deliver a special tribute to Motown founder Berry Gordy.
Additionally, performances from Motown legends such as Gladys Knight, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, and the Temptations will be featured. The event’s 11-piece live band will be led by Emmy Award-winning musical director Rickey Minor. See more photos inside…
JoJo
MJ The Musical Cast
The Temptations
Debbie Allen, Suzanne de Passe
Jamie Foxx
Machine Gun Kelly
(Photos by: Carell Augustus/NBC)
