Reba McEntire is the subject of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s latest spotlight exhibit. Reba McEntire: Put On Your Red Dress, Baby offers the attention-grabbing red gown worn by the superstar on the 1993 Country Music Association Awards as the exhibit centerpiece. Designed by McEntire’s longtime stylist, Sandi Spika, the silk and jersey gown, with its plunging neckline and strategically placed sequins, shocked some fans. Reba later said, “I got more press off that dress than if I’d won Entertainer of the Year.” The exhibit will run through June 13, 2010. [See videos below.]

With a career spanning three decades, the Oklahoma native is deserving of an exhibit at the Hall of Fame. She has sold more than 40 million records and won dozens of awards. McEntire has also enjoyed a successful acting career, starring in Annie, Get Your Gun on Broadway, her sitcom Reba, and many movies. She released a new album in August and will co-headline a national tour with George Strait in 2010.

Other special events coming up at the Hall include an interview with Brenda Lee about “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” tomorrow (12/10) at noon, and an interview and performance by Bill Anderson as part of the Poets and Prophets: Legendary Country Songwriters series on Sat., Dec. 12, at 1:30 p.m. This program will be streaming live on www.countrymusichalloffame.org. There will also be special showings of the Johnny Cash Christmas Show, and Barbara Mandrell’s Christmas: A Family Reunion on Fridays and Sundays for the remainder of the month. Tennessee residents get $5 off admission through the end of December.

It’s Christmastime and artists are vying for airplay with holiday singles. Some are taking the traditional route, like Darryl Worley with “Jingle Bells,” while others are branching out with fun, unique offerings. Phil Vassar is even giving his Christmas set away for free.

Trailer Choir has a new “Holla’ Day” version of their hit, “Rockin’ The Beer Gut,” which has reworked lyrics poking fun at Santa’s struggle with his weight. It is available at digital retailers, especially since the original version sold well over 200,000 copies. In the accompanying animated video below, Santa Claus looks suspiciously like Trailer Choir’s Big Vinny. The Show Dog group plays 2nd Avenue Live in Nashville on Dec. 19.

Gretchen Wilson has released a remake of the classic children’s tune “I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas,” which was originally recorded by a 10-year-old in 1953. Wilson even invited several kids from her daughter’s school to sing on the track.

To celebrate the holidays and the upcoming Dec. 15 release of his studio album Traveling Circus, Phil Vassar is giving away five free holiday songs. Click here to download Phil Vassar An Acoustic Christmas.

Darryl Worley has put a new spin on the holiday classic “Jingle Bells,” which he recorded exclusively for Verizon Wireless. The full song, ringtone and ringback tone will be available for purchase throughout the holiday season to Verizon subscribers on VCAST Music.

Steve Wariner’s new single “Feels Like Christmas Time” is available for digital download. He prepared a short video clip demonstrating how he added the guitar parts to the recording for stevewariner.com. And another of Wariner’s Christmas songs will hit airwaves this season when soul/R&B singer Ruben Studdard releases “Christmas in Your Arms,” written with Bill Anderson and recorded previously by Alabama.

Brady Seals is offering “Been There, Drunk That,” the second single from his Play Time album, in time for holiday and New Year’s Eve parties. He is also creating a special dance mix version and has partnered with Marco Club Connection to promote it.

Oklahoma teenager Kylie Morgan is in the holiday spirit and is 100% donating proceeds from her Christmas with Kylie Morgan album (Land Run Records) to the American Cancer Society.