‘CMA Country Christmas’ Special Marks Best Viewer Numbers Since 2014

ABC’s annual CMA Country Christmas special, which aired Monday night (Nov. 27), garnered ratings gains following its telecast. The show experienced a 19 percent increase in total viewers (8.2 million vs. 6.9 million) and a 20 percent increase in Adults 18-49 (1.2/4 vs. 1.0/3) over its year-ago telecast to earn three-year highs on both measures, marking its best numbers since Dec. 1, 2014.

CMA’s two-hour holiday show hosted by Reba McEntire held strong through ABC’s final primetime hour, making ABC the most-watched network of the night. The special also increased 53 percent year-over-year in Facebook and Twitter interactions. CMA closes out 2017 with all three of its annual ABC TV properties, CMA Fest, The 51st Annual CMA Awards and CMA Country Christmas, reaching three-year ratings highs.

CMA Country Christmas will re-air on Saturday, Dec. 23 at 7 CT on ABC. The eighth annual holiday music celebration is executive produced by Robert Deaton, and directed by Paul Miller.

• Author
• Recent Posts

Lorie Hollabaugh

Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at lhollabaugh@musicrow.com.

Latest posts by Lorie Hollabaugh (see all)

• Brooks & Dunn, Eric Church & Ashley McBryde To Headline CMC Rocks QLD’s 20 Year Celebration - September 25, 2026
• Drake White’s First-Ever Loblolly Fest Set For Oct. 17 In Alabama - September 25, 2026
• Stormy Skies Fill Reba’s Latest Music Capsule ‘Could Have Been Raining,’ Out Now - September 25, 2026