Trisha Yearwood Joins Country Holiday Efforts

Trisha Yearwood photo courtesy of Big Machine Records.

Nov. 21, 2008 — Trisha Yearwood is bringing The Sound Of Music to Christmas with a free download of "My Favorite Things," designed to bolster America’s support of its troops during the season.

The performance can be found at Sears.com, which also offers information about what fans can do to aid the families of the nation’s soldiers through the Heroes At Home campaign.

"This holiday season may be tougher than most for a lot of my fans, who have become part of my extended family," Trisha says. "When I was asked to be part of the Heroes At Home program, which honors not just our troops but their families here at home, I decided to record one of my favorites. ‘My Favorite Things’ expresses a simple but special concept."

Trisha’s not alone in Christmas-related activities and promotions. Other examples:
• Sara Evans is encouraging a Red Cross effort to send one million Christmas cards to American military personnel serving overseas during the holiday season. "I am on the board of the Celebrity National Cabinet for the American Red Cross and encouraging everyone to consider this amazing campaign to support the troops this holiday season," Sara says. For more information, visit www.redcross.org/holidaymail.

• Martina McBride turns on the blue Christmas lights at Elvis Presley’s Graceland Mansion in Memphis on Friday.

• Kathy Mattea rides the Santa Train in Appalachia Saturday, delivering toys to children in Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee.

• Toby Keith and Willie Nelson appear Sunday on Comedy Central’s "A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift Of All."

• Charlie Daniels hosts a sold-out Christmas For Kids concert in Nashville on Monday, with plans to sign autographs at his museum before the show. His guests for the evening include Montgomery Gentry, Rodney Atkins, Phil Vassar and Heidi Newfield.

• Faith Hill performs songs from her new Joy To The World album during a holiday installment of the PBS series "Soundstage" during Thanksgiving weekend.

• Faith and Tim McGraw are among the stars on the CBS special "A Home For The Holidays," slated for Dec. 23. Also on board: Jennie Garth, Martin Short and Jamie Foxx.