Great Performances "Rod Stewart: Merry Christmas, Baby"

(Rochester, New York) – Grammy Award®-winning, two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Rod Stewart hosts his first holiday special, Rod Stewart: Merry Christmas, Baby, a Great Performances special airing Monday, December 17 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV/HD (DT 21.1/cable 1011 and 11).

Stewart’s concert special was taped in September at the lush Villa de Leon, a private residence overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Pacific Palisades, CA, near the famous Getty Villa, for which it is sometimes mistaken. It captures Stewart as he performs a collection of some of the most beloved holiday standards and traditional songs from his soon-to-be-released album also titled Merry Christmas, Baby. 

Throughout the special, Stewart is joined by an incredible array of superstar artists, including Michael Bublé on “Winter Wonderland.” He is united with Mary J. Blige on “We Three Kings” and Cee-Lo Green on the title tune “Merry Christmas, Baby” featuring New Orleans’ favorite son, Trombone Shorty.  “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” is a mesmerizing “virtual” duet with Ella Fitzgerald featuring Chris Botti.  Among the other holiday favorites are “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,”  “Blue Christmas,” “When You Wish Upon A Star,” “Silent Night” and “Auld Lang Syne.”

Stewart’s PBS concert special and album also feature a new, original track, “Red-Suited Super Man,” that’s destined to be a holiday classic and was composed by Rod Stewart, David Foster and Amy Foster.

For a complete list of holiday programs on WXXI-TV/HD, Classical 91.5, and AM 1370 visit WXXI.org/holiday.

Credit: Courtesy of Penny Lancaster Stewart