Halle Bailey and Smokey Robinson to host ‘A Motown Christmas’ this holiday season: Find out when it airs

NBC has announced a new music special for the upcoming holiday season: “A Motown Christmas.” The event will be hosted by Smokey Robinson and Halle Bailey and executive produced by Debbie Allen and Suzanne de Passe. Performers will include Robinson, Bailey, Gladys Knight, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, The Temptations, Ashanti, Andra Day, BeBe Winans, Jamie Foxx, JoJo, October London, MGK, Pentatonix, Jordin Sparks, and the cast of the Broadway show “MJ The Musical.” It airs Wednesday night, December 11, at 9:00pm Eastern and Pacific.

Jen Neal, Executive Vice President of Live Events and Specials at NBCUniversal Entertainment, said in a statement, “Motown’s timeless hits have played as a soundtrack for American families for the last six decades. NBC is honored to spotlight the iconic legacy of Motown with a festive celebration for the holiday season.”

De Passe added, “I’m delighted to join Debbie Allen, SpringHill and NBC to bring Motown music, great artists and warm, family feelings together in a grand celebration of Christmas.”

And Allen commented, “I’m thrilled to be back in the saddle with Motown and Suzanne de Passe to bring to the world this much-needed holiday family special. The music of Motown has always been magical, and we are going to sing and dance everyone into Christmas joy!”

This isn’t the first time NBC and Motown have teamed up. The network previously aired “Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever” in 1983 and “Motown Returns to the Apollo” in 1985. Both were also produced by de Passe, and both won Emmys for Best Variety Program. Of course, Debbie Allen is no stranger to the Emmys either. She has been awarded six times by the television academy. Will both women add to their Emmy collections in 2025?