By Janice Malone
NASHVILLE, TN — After all of the Thanksgiving eat-a-thon and the Black Friday shop-a-thons have ended, make sure to tune in getTV’s “The Soul & Spirit of Christmas,” the network’s holiday music variety. The show premieres November 23, 2018 at 7pm (Nashville time). This is the network’s second one hour original special, that will feature music and memories from gospel and R&B greats CeCe Winans, BeBe Winans, Anthony Hamilton and The HamilTones, Take 6, Koryn Hawthorne and The Voice finalist Kyla Jade.
This uplifting one-hour special features time-honored classics and powerful original compositions that are sure to put you in a holiday mood. Plus, the performers share memories and family traditions in new interviews filmed exclusively right here in Nashville’s Berry Hill area.
During The Soul of Red Carpet pre-show festivities, some of the performers shared with The Tribune a few of their favorite holiday memories. “When we were growing up, we loved music and so the holidays were a time to be together and go to church with our family,” recalls BeBe Winans. “So, when I became a father myself, it was so special watching my own children open their gifts and be so excited. But when we were kids back in Detroit, we heard about Santa but from the outside. Santa wasn’t exactly very welcomed in our house. He just wasn’t that important!” says BeBe with a laugh. Fans of the six-time Grammy Award winning singer are in for a treat next year. According to Winans, ‘Born For This’ a musical about his extraordinary life and career, is headed for Broadway sometime next year.
During The Soul & Spirit of Christmas special, award-winning R& B/Soul group Anthony Hamilton & The HamilTones will be singing a delightfully jazzy version of the classic “Little Drummer Boy.” The soulful singers shared some fun holiday memories about food and toys before the taping began. When it comes to his personal holiday food favorites, Anthony Hamilton says: “I’ve got to have me some potato salad for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.” The HamilTones members chimed in on their culinary favs too. 2E says, ”Give me my holiday fried oysters and sweet potato pie, thank you!” J. Vito adds, “For me, I need me some chitlins, macaroni and cheese, cranberry sauce and fried turkey, and I’m good.” These guys are knockout singers/songwriters and performers but just like the rest of us, Santa was a big part of their North Carolina childhood memories too. “Even though I would tear the arms off of the dolls, Santa would bring me GI Joe, Stretch Armstrong action dolls and bikes,” recalls Hamilton. “I’m kinda with Anthony. Santa brought me bikes, GI Joe and Thundercat toys,” says 2E. “And for me, (J Vito), Santa usually delivered the toys I asked for to my house. I really had no beef with the guy when I was a kid,” he laughs. For more info on the holiday special visit: www.get.tv
