CMA/Image Group LAJust last month, you could’ve seen Darius Rucker and David Nail as they wrapped up their final dates together on the latest leg of the Southern Style tour. Tonight, they’ll be together again on the annual CMA Country Christmas.
The Hootie & the Blowfish frontman says he’d hoped to do the special last year when his Home for the Holidays album was new.
“On these shows, you want to do one of the old standards that you do, and ‘Winter Wonderland’ is such a rockin’ song it was perfect,” he offers, when asked what he’ll sing. “You know ‘What God Wants for Christmas,’ I just love that song so much. I’m so proud of being part of writing that song and part of the whole thing, and you know last year it was funny because we really wanted to do the Christmas show and I think I was going to Europe or something and I couldn’t do it. I’m just really excited that I’m getting to do that song this year.”
David, who’ll soon become a first-time dad to twins, admits he was a little nervous about the soul classic he decided to tackle.
“You know this song that I’m singing tonight I’ve listened to about 4,300 times,” he jokes, “so right now it’s my favorite– ‘This Christmas,’ the Donny Hathaway version– uh, just because I’m so paranoid I’m going to mess up, I’ve been listening to it so much!”
Joining David and Darius on the 2015 show are host Jennifer Nettles, LeAnn Rimes, Charles Kelley, Kelsea Ballerini, Dan + Shay, Martina McBride and more. It debuts at 9 p.m. ET tonight on ABC.
Copyright © 2015, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
