What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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November 26 - December 2, 2017 WHATS UP! T5 BY ANDREW WARREN TV Media Country tradition: Well, we're on the cusp of December, and the Christmas season is in full swing, especially on televi- sion. It isn't just toy commer- cials and traditional Christmas movies being broadcast into our homes, though. Christmas is also a time for music, and the TV networks have tunes aplen- ty. On Monday, Nov. 27, ABC brings the eighth annual "CMA Country Christmas" event from Nashville to homes all over the country. This yearly musical delight brings together some of the biggest stars in country music for a night of tunes that won't soon be forgot- ten. The concert, which was filmed live from Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House earlier this month, is hosted by Reba McEntire, one of country mu- sic's biggest stars. "Christmas is such a special time. It reminds me of growing up in Oklahoma and singing carols with my family," McEn- tire said in a statement an- nouncing the special concert. "I'm just tickled to join a group of some of my best country buddies onstage to celebrate the holiday season. This is where my love of music began." You really couldn't ask for a better host for an event like this. The singer has earned two Grammy Awards, seven CMA Awards and 15 American Music Awards. She's sold more than 56 million albums, and has hit the top of the charts with 35 No. 1 singles. But McEntire isn't a one trick pony: she's also an accom- plished actress. Her popular self-titled sitcom "Reba" ran for six seasons, she made her Broadway debut in 2001 in "An- nie Get Your Gun," and she's starred in numerous films, in- cluding 1990's cult classic "Tremors." Despite all of that, though, "CMA Country Christmas" isn't about McEntire — it's about the music and the special time of the year that brings so many people together. Country and Christmas music lovers alike won't want to miss this special annual event, broadcast Monday, Nov. 27, on ABC. Amazing a cappella: Tradi- tional Christmas tunes and contemporary favorites get a new twist in what's become an annual musical event on NBC in "A Very Pentatonix Christ- mas," airing Monday, Nov. 27. Busy that night? Don't worry, there's an encore airing next week on Wednesday, Dec. 6. Pentatonix, the five-member a cappella group, belt out their favorite festive tunes alongside some special guests, including "The Voice" coach Jennifer Hudson, former "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno and "America's Got Talent" winner Darci Lynne Farmer, a 13-year- old ventriloquist. A cappella is a musical style that forsakes instruments and instead only uses the perform- ers' voices. It isn't just a group of people singing, though. The members of Pentatonix have truly perfected their art and are able to blend their voices to- gether to sound just as good as any band. Their voices come together in such unique ways that it's almost impossible for an untrained ear to tell that there aren't any instruments in- volved in the harmony. The three-time Grammy winners will have a new face in their lineup during this year's holiday special. Earlier this year, Avi Kaplan left the group to pursue a solo career, and new group member Matt Sallee stepped in to take over the low- est register of Pentatonix's range. His voice has already been heard on the band's latest album, "A Pentatonix Christ- mas Deluxe," and he sets out on his first tour with the group starting Sunday, Dec. 3. Pentatonix puts a unique spin on Christmas classics in "A Very Pentatonix Christmas," airing Monday, Nov. 27, on ABC, with an encore presenta- tion the following week on Wednesday, Dec. 6. Face the music: Fox is dou- bling down on music. The net- work is the home of musical dramas "Empire," "Star" and the now-finished series "Glee," but ever since ratings jugger- naut "American Idol" was can- celed in 2016, Fox has been lacking a musical competition series. Of course, "American Idol" has since been picked up by ABC, but Fox has something new coming down the pike. "The Four: Battle for Stardom" has entered early production, and it promises to put a unique spin on musical competitions. Unlike, say, "Idol" or NBC's "The Voice," "The Four" begins with only four super-talented finalists who have to defend their spots on the stage. Each week, new challengers will try to out-sing the reigning final- ists. If the existing four are able to outperform the challengers, they get to stay and sing again in the next week's episode. If they fail, though, their spots will be taken over by the new finalists, who then have to de- fend their spots on the stage from future challengers. In the end, of course, only one will claim the ultimate prize from iHeartMedia. The massive media company will be a partner throughout the whole process, from supporting in au- ditions to giving the winner a coveted spot in its "On the Verge" artist development pro- gram. "The Four: Battle for Stardom" is still in the early stages of production, and no re- lease date or judges have been announced yet. CHILL CLOUDS COAT CONDENSA- TION DAMP DELUGE DREARY DRENCH DRIZZLE DRY GALE GALOSHES HAIL JACKET LIGHTNING MACKINTOSH MIST PELTING PONCHO POUR PUDDLE RAIN RUNOFF SHEETS SHELTER SHOWER SOAKED SODDEN SPIT SPRINKLE STORM THUNDER TORRENT UMBRELLA WET WIND WORMS Dreary Day Reba McEntire hosts "CMA Country Christmas" WORD SEARCH STARS ON SCREEN Solution on page T23