Magical Moments Unfold As Lindsey Stirling Joins Amy Grant And Trisha Yearwood For ‘Joy To The World’

Co-hosts Amy Grant and Trisha Yearwood opened this year’s CMA Christmas with a magical performance of “Joy To The World” featuring renowned violinist, Lindsey Stirling.

As the house lights came up on stage of Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville, TN, the live audience was transported into a winter wonderland of Balsam Hill trees lit up in warm lights and wreaths and garland covering the set. The single spotlight shined on the center-stage dancers who broke out to reveal Stirling’s impressive violin playing and the gracefulness of her simultaneous dancing while wearing rhinestone booties and a flowy blue dress. 

Grant was first to make an appearance as she stepped out in a bright purple jumpsuit to deliver the opening notes to the Christmas classic. Following another solo moment for Stirling, Yearwood appeared from the other side to sing the next verse while donning a sequin floor-length dress. 

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Cheers of joyfulness and awe can be heard coming from the audience when the trio of female icons come together to finish out the faith-filled tune. Yearwood and Grant’s harmonies fill the room with elegance and merriment, setting the tone for the remainder of the evening as they sing, “He rules the world, with truth and grace / And makes the nations prove / The glories of His righteousness / And wonders of His love / And wonders of His love / And wonders, wonders of His love / His Love.”

This moving performance aired Thursday, Dec. 14 as part of the 14^th annual holiday television special, which featured a mix of holiday favorites and original Christmas songs. 

Getting Into The Holiday Spirit With CMA Christmas

In addition to “Joy To The World,” later in the evening the co-hosts joined together once again to sing “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” Grant also delivered her 1992 rendition of “Grown Up Christmas List” and Yearwood partnered with Stirling to sing the classic, “O Holy Night.”

“I really get into the spirit of the season hard and I think this show, it’s got so much energy and joy and it’s a bring everybody together thing, it’s a feel-good thing, which we just really need. This is my favorite time of the year,” Yearwood said of the production.

“There were just so many different fun, playful, serious, sentimental, faith-filled, there’s so many beautiful moments. I just think for the people here, live or if it’s just piped into your home and you’re watching it by yourself, it’s going to be a great experience,” added Grant. 

A Star-Studded Evening

The remainder of the performance lineup includes Jordan Davis (“O Come All Ye Faithful”), Lady A (“What Christmas Means to Me”), Ashley McBryde with Stirling (“You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”), Jon Pardi (“Beer for Santa”), The War And Treaty (“Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)”), and Zach Williams with Lainey Wilson(“Go Tell It On The Mountain”). 

While several of these artists are CMA Christmas veterans, others like Jordan Davis and Ashley McBryde get the chance to shine on this stage for the very first time.

“Christmas is my favorite time of year. For me, we always kind of stop touring right at the beginning of December just because it means a lot to me to be at home, to be with the family. So this being my first year to get to do CMA Country Christmas is really special, so I’m excited,” said Davis.

Produced by the Country Music Association, CMA Country Christmas is directed by Milton Sneed, written by Jon Macks and executively produced by Robert Deaton. CMA also once again partnered with Balsam Hill to bring a stunning array of realistic artificial Christmas trees and other holiday décor to the set of CMA Country Christmas. For more information regarding the decorations you will see on stage, visit balsamhill.com/c/cma. 

For those who missed the premiere on ABC on Thursday, Dec. 14, there will be another opportunity to snuggle up by the fireplace and enjoy the show. A special encore presentation of CMA Christmas will air Wednesday, Dec. 20 at 10/9c on ABC.