# Christmas in Washington

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 Brokaw | Pat Boone Natalie Cole Amy Grant United States Naval Academy Glee Club |
| 1986 | John Forsythe | Mac Davis Sandi Patty Shiloh Baptist Church Choir United States Naval Academy Glee Club |
| 1987 | Barbara Mandrell | Barbara Mandrell Marilyn McCoo Jack Jones Vienna Boys' Choir United States Naval Academy Glee Club |
| 1988 | James Stewart | Vikki Carr Shirley Jones Kathleen Battle Gary Morris Eastern High School Choir United States Naval Academy Glee Club |
| 1989 | Olivia Newton-John | Olivia 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 Denver | John Denver Reba McEntire Aretha Franklin Eastern High School Choir |
| 1991 | — | Anita Baker Vince Gill Johnny Mathis Anne Murray Eastern High School Choir |
| 1992 | Julie Andrews | Peabo Bryson Neil Diamond Midori |
| 1993 | Kirstie Alley | Mary Chapin Carpenter Patti LaBelle Wynton Marsalis Aaron Neville Ricky Van Shelton Eastern High School Choir |
| 1994 | Helen Hunt | Anita Baker Jon Secada Kathy Mattea Tim McGraw Kenny G Sounds of Blackness Eastern High School Choir |
| 1995 | Kelsey Grammer David Hyde Pierce Jane Leeves Peri Gilpin John Mahoney | Clint Black Gloria Estefan Al Green Eastern High School Choir |
| 1996 | John Lithgow Joseph Gordon-Levitt Kristen Johnston French Stewart Jane Curtin | Luther Vandross Faith Hill CeCe Winans Ruth Ann Swenson Eastern High School Choir |
| 1997 | Glenn Close | Hanson Deana Carter Aaliyah Shirley Caesar Eastern High School Choir |
| 1998 | Brooke Shields | Kenny Loggins Martina McBride Aretha Franklin Audra McDonald 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 McEntire | Tony Bennett Charlotte Church Mandy Moore Usher |
| 2002 | Katie Holmes | Brooks & Dunn Alison Krauss The Brian Setzer Orchestra Yolanda Adams |
| 2003 | Patricia Heaton | Ashanti Kenny Chesney Joss Stone Renée Fleming |
| 2004 | Phil McGraw and Robin McGraw | LeAnn Rimes JoJo Vanessa Williams Ruben Studdard |
| 2005 | Phil McGraw and Robin McGraw | Rascal Flatts Carrie Underwood Ciara Jane Monheit The Click Five CeCe Winans |
| 2006 | Phil McGraw and Robin McGraw | Taylor Hicks Il Divo Gretchen Wilson Chris Brown Corinne Bailey Rae Bianca Ryan |
| 2007 | Phil McGraw and Robin McGraw | Katharine McPhee Ne-Yo Vanessa Hudgens Alan Jackson Colbie Caillat Heather Headley Andrea Bocelli |
| 2008 | Phil McGraw and Robin McGraw | Casting Crowns Julianne Hough Kristin Chenoweth Darius Rucker Straight No Chaser |
| 2009 | George Lopez | Mary J. Blige Neil Diamond Sugarland Rob Thomas Usher Justin Bieber |
| 2010 | Ellen DeGeneres | Mariah Carey Miranda Cosgrove Andrea Bocelli Annie Lennox Maxwell Matthew Morrison |
| 2011 | Conan O'Brien | Justin Bieber CeeLo Green The Band Perry Jennifer Hudson Victoria Justice |
| 2012 | Conan O'Brien | Diana Ross Demi Lovato Megan Hilty Scotty McCreery Chris Mann Psy |
| 2013 | Hugh Jackman | Backstreet Boys Sheryl Crow Anna Kendrick Janelle Monáe Pat Monahan |
| 2014 | Dwayne Johnson | Darius Rucker Aloe Blacc Christina Perri Hunter Hayes Rita Ora |