Chris Stapleton and H.E.R. Sing ‘This Christmas’ at National Tree Lighting
Check out one of the night's brightest moments.
Country star Chris Stapleton teamed up with pop/R&B stunner H.E.R. teamed up for one of the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony’s brightest moments on December 5. Together, they turned in a moving performance that warmed a cold and blustery night.
Taking the chilly, open-air stage in Washington, D.C. for The 99th Annual National Christmas Tree Lighting on CBS, the two stars showed off a vocal blend full of holiday magic. Soulful, expressive and going down like whiskey and champagne, both voices featured an intoxicating edge on Donny Hathaway’s classic “This Christmas” — but they got there in different ways.
With Stapleton leading the song off and playing a cherry red guitar, H.E.R. followed along while seated behind a piano, before getting up for a toe-to-toe finish. With snow flurries in the air, and the U.S. Army Band Downrange providing funky blasts of brass and woodwind instruments, the two stars gifted viewers with a captivating treat worthy of the season.
The show also featured performances from Maren Morris, Kristin Chenoweth, Keb’ Mo’ and more, and it wasn’t the first time the country hit maker and R&B queen have shared a stage. The duo also teamed up for the 2021 CMT Music Awards, where they’s sang a fiery duet of “Hold On.”
Meanwhile, Stapleton is hoping to unwrap a few more presents that won’t come until after Christmas. Following his domination of the 55th Annual CMA Awards — which saw him win six awards in November — he’s up for three trophies at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards: Best Country Album (Starting Over), Best Country Song (“Cold”) and Best Country Solo Performance (“You Should Probably Leave”). The Grammys will air live on January 31 at 8:00pm ET/7:00pm CT on CBS.
