The three gospel legends are touring together at Christmas for the first time in nearly three decades
Amy Grant, CeCe Winans, and Michael W. Smith took the stage at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, MD, on Sunday night (Nov 30th) for the third stop on their Christmas Together Tour. True to the tour’s title, the three Christian artists played the set together. The trio switched off between songs, shared duets, and reveled in on-stage merriment.
Grant emerged first in a shimmering floor-length red dress to kick off the night with “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” She was swiftly joined by Smith, in a trim blue suit and whimsical tie. Winans hit the stage last, in a beaming silver dress, vocals pure as ever.
The three powerhouse artists were backed by seven musicians and a cadre of background vocalists. The stage was decked out in Christmas glory; glittering snow-white curtains framed three Christmas trees at the top of the risers.
The night featured a bounty of Christmas classics, originals, and custom arrangements from all three. Winans brought her stand-out arrangement of “Feliz Navidad,” which starts as a ballad before morphing into something of a dance number. (And if you’re lucky, Grant will do her best ‘robot’ to the beat at your show, too!)
Smith gave an energetic performance of the Andy Williams classic “Kay Thompson’s Jingle Bells.” It’s such a jaunty, wintery number, you’ll want to jump up and start a snowball fight. Later on, he offered his funk-light arrangement of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” called “Gloria.” Smith’s voice perfectly fits these lighthearted “Smittyfied” interpretations.
Grant played her seminal holiday tune “Tennessee Christmas,” accompanied by Smith on piano. Smith then offered his emotional 2022 Christmas tune, “Freeze the Frame.”
An intermission followed Winan and Grant’s duet on “Grown Up Christmas List.” Perhaps that song is the mission statement of this tour: to spread peace and love through song, at this special time of year when we all seem to care just a little deeper.
Winans started the second half of the night with “Gloria in Excelsis Deo.” Amy Grant then returned with her original “To Be Together,” yet another warm musical hug about being with loved ones at Christmas time. Smith echoed this sentiment with his first song of the second half, “Christmas Time is Here.”
And so it went on, deep into this final November night; songs of Christmas cheer, year-closing sentiment, and praise for the “Reason for the Season,” though the latter was never heavy-handed.
And it was all wrapped up like a big present, in a style we hardly see anymore. That is, the lush, classy theater production that aims—and succeeds—to be as elegant as the first winter snowfall of the year. “Christmas Together” is the best kind of holiday celebration. It’ll make you nostalgic, grateful, and will probably make you hug your loved ones even tighter around the tree this year.
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