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NBC will celebrate Motown’s legacy with A Motown Christmas, a two-hour holiday special hosted by Smokey Robinson and Halle Bailey. The special, produced by LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s SpringHill, will air Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 9 p.m. ET/PT and next day on Peacock.
The special will include performances featuring more than 25 Motown hits, performed by Robinson, Gladys Knight, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, and the Temptations. Contemporary artists including Bailey, Ashanti, Andra Day, BeBe Winans, Jamie Foxx, JoJo, Jordin Sparks, mgk, October London and Pentatonix will also pay tribute to iconic Motown hits. There also will be a world exclusive performance from the Broadway company MJ the Musical.
Motown hits such ranging from “ABC,” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” to “Dancing in the Streets” and “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”, “My Girl”, “Reach Out (I’ll be There)” and “Tears of a Clown”, plus “Stop (In the Name of Love),” “Superstition” will be performed.
Emmy-winning musical director Rickey Minor will lead the 11-piece live band.
NBC previously aired two Motown television specials, including Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever and Motown Returns to the Apollo, each winning the Emmy for Outstanding Music or Comedy Program.
“Motown’s timeless hits have played as a soundtrack for American families for the last six decades,” said Jen Neal, Executive Vice President of Live Events & Specials at NBCUniversal Entertainment. “NBC is honored to spotlight the iconic legacy of Motown with a festive celebration for the holiday season.”
A Motown Christmas is executive produced by Suzanne de Passe and Madison Jones of De Passe Jones Entertainment and Debbie Allen. Executive producers for SpringHill are LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Jamal Henderson and Philip Byron. Joe Braswell and Steve Barry are executive producing on behalf of Kelchris, who have an overall deal with SpringHill. Courtney Whitaker is a co-executive producer for SpringHill. Leon Knoles will direct. Executive producers for Motown Records/Universal Music Group are Steve Berman and Bruce Resnikoff.
