Of course, from Paisley’s 11 years of hosting theCMA AwardswithCarrie Underwood, everyone knows that he has sharp comedic chops — and they’re almost the main attraction ofBrad Paisley Thinks He’s Special.
Jim Spellman/WireImage; Desiree Navarro/WireImage
Among the best bits involves Paisley’s favorite comic foil, Underwood, and his attempt to show her how to put some mud on the tires in a four-wheel-drive pickup. Instead, sheinsists on taking the wheel,terrorizing Paisley with doughnuts, fishtails and other thrill-seeking moves. (He has resolutely maintained that no stunt driver was involved.)
Paisley and Underwood.Mark Levine/ABC
Underwood is one of the show’s several guests who are there just for laughs. Hall of Fame quarterbackPeyton Manningshows up to hound Paisley with performance advice.Chris Harrison,host ofThe Bachelor,and Paisley crash a bachelorette party-on-wheels — on one of Nashville’s many pedal taverns. AndTim McGrawand Paisley’s wife,Kimberly Williams-Paisley,also have memorable cameos.
Manning and Paisley.Mark Levine/ABC
There’s no shortage of music on the show, which was filmed entirely in Nashville: Paisley joins his musical guests,the Jonas Brothers,Darius Rucker(Hootie, along with his Blowfish) andKelsea Ballerini, as each sings one of their hits; Paisley even ropes the Jonases intoa bit of high jinks. The mirthful host does reserve the right to show off his sensitive side, debuting a new song, “Alive Right Now,” which he shares with Addie Pratt, a talented young singer who’s also a cancer survivor.
By the way, if you can’t get enough of Paisley’s funny side, be on the lookout for his upcoming Amazon series,Fish Out of Water. He’s set to star and executive produce the half-hour sitcom, which was announced in September (though its debut has yet to be scheduled).
ABC
Trisha Yearwoodtakes over the reins of the 10th edition ofCMA Country Christmas, afterReba McEntire’s two-year hosting stint. Yearwood ably oversees an all-star cast, which includes top country actsLady Antebellum,Chris Janson,Rascal Flatts,Dierks Bentley,Chris Young,Runaway JuneandBrett Young. Janson and Runaway June are making their debuts on the holiday special.
Kelly and Chenoweth.Donn Jones/CMA
Indeed, For King & Country, the Christian pop duo made up of brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone, delivers one of the show’s many highlights, a driving, percussion-centric version of “The Little Drummer Boy” that may even bridge the divide between that love-it-or-hate-it song.
Lady Antebellum.Donn Jones/CMA
Janson takes charge with a boogie-woogie version of “Run Rudolph Run,” bringing along his blazing harmonica. For an uplifting “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” Rascal Flatts’ Gary LeVox gives up his usual lead vocals in favor of quartet harmonies with bandmatesJay DeMarcusand Joe Don Rooney and gospel queen Winans.
Yearwood onstage.Donn Jones/CMA
All but one of the 15 performances was recorded before a packed house at Curb Event Center on the campus of Nashville’s Belmont University, Yearwood’s alma mater. Perhaps the show’s most poignant moment was filmed at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital:Dierks Bentleysang an intimate, acoustic version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” before a small audience of young cancer patients and their parents.
Brad Paisley Thinks He’s Specialairs at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on Tuesday on ABC.CMA Country Christmasfollows at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.
source: people.com
