Leslie Odom Jr, Ariana Grande & More Join Kelly Clarkson Christmas Special

Grammy and Emmy Award-winning global superstar Kelly Clarkson's love for the holiday season is no secret. She celebrates it all year long with "Ambush Christmas" segments on her award-winning daytime talk show as studio viewers and guests are treated to off-season snow, music and epic giveaways.

This year Clarkson is doubling down on the holiday spirit. Timed to the release of her new holiday album, the "Kelly Clarkson Presents: When Christmas Comes Around" holiday spectacular will air Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

The special will be filled with Clarkson's new original songs as well as a curated list of iconic classics, dancing, superstar performances featuring My Band Y'All with a streamlined modern orchestra and remarkable duets. The stage at Universal Studios Hollywood will be designed to evoke timeless Christmas themes inspired by the power of song that change the viewers' point of view - from fantastical worlds of being underneath the tree to a forest lit by the Northern Lights.

Brett Eldredge, Ariana Grande, Jay Leno, Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Odom Jr., Amy Poehler and the one-and-only Santa Claus will join Clarkson and some special everyday heroes with life-changing surprises.

Kelly Clarkson remarked: "People celebrate the holidays in different ways and that is the inspiration behind the original songs and the curated classics that are featured in this special. No matter what your heart is feeling this holiday season, I hope that this hour brings you joy and happiness exactly where you are."

Alex Duda and Kelly Clarkson are executive producers. Emmy winner Joe Terry directs.

The original music featured in the special is from "When Christmas Comes Around...," Clarkson's ninth studio album, available now via Atlantic Records. The 15-track collection sees Clarkson reunite with long-time collaborators Jason Halbert, Jesse Shatkin and more for a mix of new original songs and Christmas classics. From the inspiring duet "Santa, Can't You Hear Me," featuring Ariana Grande, to the hauntingly beautiful ballad "Merry Christmas (to THE ONE I Used to Know), "When Christmas Comes Around..." explores a wide range of holiday emotions and experiences anchored by Clarkson's vocal prowess. The album also features cheerful standout "Glow," featuring Chris Stapleton, and the fabulously bold lead single "Christmas Isn't Canceled (Just You)."

"Kelly Clarkson Presents: When Christmas Comes Around" is made possible by brand partner Wayfair, the one-stop shop for everything home. As part of their collaboration with the episode, Wayfair will be generously donating a reward to a deserving organization that helps support communities in need.

The special was also made possible by H.E.B, who were proud to donate to a local Texas story featured on the special.

Emmy Award-winning talk show host, Grammy Award-winning artist and America's original idol, Kelly Clarkson is one of the most popular artists of this era with total worldwide sales of more than 25 million albums and 40 million singles. Clarkson is currently serving as a coach on season 21 of NBC's multi-Emmy Award-winning musical competition series, "The Voice," while also filming the third season of her own multi-Emmy Award-winning daytime talk show "The Kelly Clarkson Show."

She recently released her ninth studio album "When Christmas Comes Around...," her latest since 2017's critically acclaimed Grammy-nominated album "Meaning of Life"and second holiday offering following 2013's "Wrapped in Red." The 15-track collection, featuring a mix of new original songs and Christmas classics, sees Clarkson explore a wide range of holiday emotions and experiences anchored by her incomparable vocal prowess. The Texas-born singer-songwriter first came to fame in 2002 as the winner of the inaugural season of "American Idol." Clarkson's debut single, "A Moment Like This," followed and quickly went to #1 on Billboard's Hot 100, ultimately ranking as the year's best-selling single in the U.S. Further, Clarkson is one of pop's top singles artists, with 17 singles boasting multi-platinum, platinum and gold certifications around the world, including such global favorites as "Miss Independent" and "Because of You."

Clarkson has released nine studio albums ("Thankful," "Breakaway," "My December," "All I Ever Wanted," "Stronger," "Wrapped in Red," "Piece By Piece," "Meaning of Life," "When Christmas Comes Around..."), one greatest hits album and two children's books (New York Times Top 10 bestseller "River Rose and the Magical Lullaby" and the recent follow-up, "River Rose and the Magical Christmas"). She is the recipient of an array of awards, including two Daytime Emmy Award in 2020 and 2021 "Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host" for "The Kelly Clarkson Show", three Grammy Awards, four American Music Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards, two Academy of COUNTRY MUSIC Awards, two AMERICAN COUNTRY AWARDS and one COUNTRY MUSIC Assn. Award. She is also the first artist to top each of Billboard's pop, adult contemporary, country and dance charts. Additionally, Clarkson has hosted the "Billboard Music Awards" for the past three years, she voices the character of Moxy in STX Films' Ugly Dolls and the character of Delta Dawn in Universal's Trolls World Tour and she was the winning coach on seasons 14, 15 and 17 of "The Voice."

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