Jennifer nettles

Jennifer Nettles, of reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year Sugarland, hosts "CMA Country Christmas" with music, memories and stories of the season from some of the format's biggest stars, airing MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29 (9:30-11:00 p.m. ET) on the ABC Television Network. Kellie Pickler has been added to the list of performers, which includes Sheryl Crow, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Reba, LeAnn Rimes, Darius Rucker and Sugarland performing and sharing with fans their holiday traditions.

Sugarland, essentially the power pairing of Georgia peach Nettles and her songwriting partner/multi-instrumentalist/comedic foil Kristian Bush, likes to continually stretch the boundaries of the generic genre known as classic country. And they do so with The Incredible Machine, an explosive exhibition filled with pump-your-fist anthems, power-to-the-people pop and glory-be inspiration. 

Country Music has a long been a part of holiday traditions, from Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" to Gene Autry's "Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer" and the Elvis classic, "Blue Christmas." "The themes you find in Country Music are the foundation of what makes the holidays meaningful - the comfort of home, family and friends," Moore said. "'CMA Country Christmas' will be wrapped in those traditions."

With 11 sweeping songs co-written by Nettles and Bush (at right), who also co-produced it with Byron Gallimore, The Incredible Machine is a big record meant to be played before bigger audiences. And Nettles doesn't hesitate to state that Sugarland plans to take the country by storm. Not the genre, mind you, but the Rhythm Nation that likes their messages sent in simple terms with thumping beats, stirring guitars and soaring vocals. Trying to reach a broader audience is their ultimate goal as emerging artists such as Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Lady Antebellum wrestle for a piece of the fountain-of-youth market. But keeping traditional country listeners, including grandma, is also important to Sugarland.