Charlie Daniels Christmas With Friends

Charlie Daniels gathered many musician friends for his new GAC special, A Twin Pines Christmas, premiering tonight (12/3) at 7 PM/CT. Among those performing holiday favorites are The Grascals, Kathy Mattea, Aaron Tippin, Dan Tyminski and the Cox Sisters.

Chad Denning of Gamma Blast directed the shoot back in June when the temperature was in the mid ’90s. He says the artists rehearsed in shorts and T-shirts then changed into Christmas sweaters. “When we began it felt a little surreal creating Christmas in June, but it wasn’t hard to get into the Christmas spirit with such great music,” he recalls. “Dan Tyminski’s version of ‘The Christmas Song’ left the entire crew speechless because it was spot on. We shot it in one take. And, of course, Charlie was wonderful.”

Charlie Daniels and director Chad Denning

The features Daniels, backed by the Grascals and three of his band members, performing original holiday tunes “Mississippi Christmas Eve” and “Hallelujah” before he shares the stage with Mattea for “O Come All Ye Faithful,” and Tyminski for the Nat King Cole standard “The Christmas Song.” Also included are The Grascals’ take on the Bill Monroe classic “Christmas Time’s A Comin’,” Tippin’s performance of the Daniels-penned “Christmas Time Down South,” Evelyn Cox’s “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” and Suzanne Cox’s “Silent Night.”

Denning edited the concert with Grand Ole Opry veteran Tim Weeks acting as producer. And Gamma Blast created a DVD version of the concert that is part of Daniels’ Joy to the World: A Bluegrass Christmas CD/DVD package.