Lee University Prominent in CMA Christmas Special Tonight
Lee University alumni and student groups will be playing a prominent role in the Country Music Association (CMA) Country Christmas special set to air tonight, Monday, November 28 on ABC television. The anticipated annual event will begin at 8:00 p.m. EST.
Among the performers will be Rascal Flatts, an enormously popular country music trio over the past decade. Among its members is Lee University alumnus, Jay DeMarcus. Rascal Flatts has racked up numerous Grammy awards and CMA awards, including Group of the Year and Entertainer of the Year.
Backing up Rascal Flatts will be the Lee University Voices of Lee, directed by Danny Murray. Voices is a 16-member vocal ensemble whose signature a cappella style has earned them notoriety around the globe. They have performed on national talent competitions, including the first season of NBC television’s The Sing-Off, where they placed third in December 2009.
A final Lee University connection on the CMA special tonight will be Jordan Smith, winner of NBC television’s “The Voice” competition last December. Smith was a Lee student when he was chosen to compete last fall and was crowned the winner of the competition on December 15, 2015. Since then, Smith has been featured on numerous nationally-broadcast events including the People’s Choice Awards, the TODAY show, performances at Carnegie Hall and the National Prayer Breakfast and releasing his debut album, “Something Beautiful.” He is currently on a Christmas tour with Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith.
