Christmas in Washington was an annual Christmas television special that originated on NBC and later aired on TNT. It ended in 2015 after a 33-year run.
Background One of two annual holiday specials produced by George Stevens Jr. (the other being the Kennedy Center Honors), the variety show first aired in 1982 on NBC before moving to its most recent home on TNT in 1998. Recorded in Washington, D.C. at the National Building Museum, on the second Sunday of each December before being re-edited for later broadcast, Christmas in Washington is a one-hour concert featuring artists from musical genres. Each guest performs at least one solo, but the prominent marquee performer usually has one or two more songs. The show sometimes had at least one guest from the world of opera. Each of the musical performances are backed by a full orchestra and chorus. The show's finale consisted of a medley performed by all the musical guests before the attendees-of-honor, the President of the United States and the First Lady, make a closing statement followed by the singing of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing".
Recent events have benefited Children's National Medical Center.
Host and performers From 2004 to 2008, the show was hosted by Dr. Phil and his wife, Robin. However, since 2009 and for the remainder of its most recent run, the show had a single host. The 2013 edition featured Hugh Jackman as host and The Backstreet Boys as marquee performers, marking the first time in six years that a group has been featured as marquee performers. The show aired live on pay-per-view internationally and in most major cities, after which a re-edited 42-minute version (with commercials in a one-hour slot) aired on network television.
Cancellation In 2015, shortly after the Stevens' production company sold the rights to their companion program, the Kennedy Center Honors, the special was cancelled after being unable to find a new network or presenting sponsor (TNT had declined to renew the show after the 2014 edition).
Editions The marquee performer is marked in bold. Year Host Performers 1982 Dinah Shore Dinah Shore Diahann Carroll John Schneider Debby Boone Ben Vereen Shiloh Baptist Church Choir United States Naval Academy Glee Club 1983 Andy Williams Andy Williams Julio Iglesias Leslie Uggams United States Naval Academy Glee Club 1984 Hal Linden The Osmonds Frederica von Stade Nell Carter United States Naval Academy Glee Club 1985 Tom BrokawPat Boone Natalie Cole Amy Grant United States Naval Academy Glee Club 1986 John ForsytheMac Davis Sandi Patty Shiloh Baptist Church Choir United States Naval Academy Glee Club 1987 Barbara MandrellBarbara Mandrell Marilyn McCoo Jack Jones Vienna Boys' Choir United States Naval Academy Glee Club 1988 James StewartVikki Carr Shirley Jones Kathleen Battle Gary Morris Eastern High School Choir United States Naval Academy Glee Club 1989 Olivia Newton-JohnOlivia Newton-John Diahann Carroll Vic Damone Sir James Galway Michael W. Smith; Take 6 Eastern High School Choir United States Naval Academy Glee Club 1990 John DenverJohn Denver Reba McEntire Aretha Franklin Eastern High School Choir United States Naval Academy Glee Club 1991 Anita Baker Vince Gill Johnny Mathis Anne Murray Gregory Jefferson Eastern High School Choir 1992 Julie AndrewsPeabo Bryson Neil Diamond Midori United States Naval Academy Glee Club Soul Children of Chicago 1993 Kirstie AlleyMary Chapin Carpenter Patti LaBelle Wynton Marsalis Aaron Neville Ricky Van Shelton United States Naval Academy Glee Club Eastern High School Choir 1994 Helen HuntAnita Baker Kenny G Kathy Mattea Tim McGraw Jon Secada Sounds of Blackness United States Naval Academy Glee Club Eastern High School Choir 1995 Kelsey GrammerDavid Hyde PierceJane LeevesPeri GilpinJohn MahoneyClint Black Gloria Estefan Al Green Dawn Upshaw United States Naval Academy Glee Club Eastern High School Choir 1996 John LithgowJoseph Gordon-LevittKristen JohnstonFrench StewartJane Curtin Luther Vandross Faith Hill CeCe Winans Ruth Ann Swenson United States Naval Academy Glee Club Eastern High School Choir 1997 Glenn CloseHanson Deana Carter Aaliyah Shirley Caesar Thomas Hampson United States Naval Academy Glee Club Eastern High School Choir 1998 Brooke Shields Kenny Loggins Martina McBride Smokey Robinson Harolyn Blackwell Eastern High School Choir 1999 Brendan Fraser Christina Aguilera B.B. King Jewel 98 Degrees United States Naval Academy Glee Club 2000 Sarah Michelle Gellar Marc Anthony Chuck Berry Jessica Simpson The Corrs Billy Gilman 2001 Reba McEntireTony Bennett Charlotte Church Mandy Moore Usher 2002 Katie Holmes Brooks & Dunn Alison Krauss The Brian Setzer Orchestra Yolanda Adams 2003 Patricia HeatonAshanti Kenny Chesney Joss Stone Renée Fleming 2004 Phil McGraw and Robin McGrawLeAnn Rimes JoJo Vanessa Williams Ruben Studdard 2005 Rascal Flatts Carrie Underwood Ciara Jane Monheit The Click Five CeCe Winans 2006 Taylor Hicks Il Divo Gretchen Wilson Chris Brown Corinne Bailey Rae Bianca Ryan 2007 Katharine McPhee Ne-Yo Vanessa Hudgens Alan Jackson Colbie Caillat Heather Headley Andrea Bocelli 2008 Casting Crowns Julianne Hough Kristin Chenoweth Darius Rucker Straight No Chaser 2009 George LopezMary J. Blige Neil Diamond Sugarland Rob Thomas Usher Justin Bieber 2010 Ellen DeGeneresMariah Carey Miranda Cosgrove Andrea Bocelli Annie Lennox Maxwell Matthew Morrison 2011 Conan O'BrienJustin Bieber CeeLo Green The Band Perry Jennifer Hudson Victoria Justice 2012Diana Ross Demi Lovato Megan Hilty Scotty McCreery Chris Mann Psy 2013 Hugh JackmanBackstreet Boys Sheryl Crow Anna Kendrick Janelle Monáe Pat Monahan 2014 Dwayne JohnsonDarius Rucker Aloe Blacc Christina Perri Hunter Hayes Rita Ora
References
Source: for Christmas in Washington 2000: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0271434/