Luken Communications, LLC and The Heartland Network, LLC have announced the network’s first original Christmas special. Christmas Songs and Stories, starring GRAMMY award winner John Berry, will air nationally on Heartland this Christmas Eve at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT and 8 p.m. MT/7 p.m. PT. The special caps the network’s annual “Twelve Days of Christmas” lineup of classic and contemporary holiday specials and Christmas episodes.
Mr. Berry, currently celebrating the 21st year of his popular Christmas tour, recorded the special in front of a live audience in Chattanooga at the newly renovated Robert Kirk Walker Theatre. Christmas Songs and Stories also features other popular Chattanooga area locations including the Chattanooga Choo Choo and Rock City’s Enchanted Garden of Lights.
Mr. Berry appears regularly on Heartland with his television series, Songs and Stories with John Berry. Both the series and the Christmas special were produced by Jeff Moseley and CJM Productions.
Mr. Berry said, "I'm so excited to be partnering with Heartland to present our Christmas concert as a network television special. What a wonderful way to bring my music of Christmas to a broader audience. I hope you and your family will tune in to enjoy Christmas Songs and Stories.”
Matt Winn, executive vice president of Luken Communications, said, “Celebrating a country Christmas is a favorite annual tradition at Heartland. As we mark five successful years of Heartland, we felt it would be the perfect time to add our own Christmas special to the incredible lineup of holiday programs in our library. We couldn’t think of a better gift for our viewers than John Berry sharing his stories and performing some of the most cherished and heartwarming Christmas songs.”
While this is Heartland’s first original Christmas special, it’s not their first leap into original production. Their new series, More Than the Music, will premiere on Tuesday, Jan. 9.