Clay To Be Featured on DirectTV Christmas Special

DirectTV has announced their 2006 Christmas special will feature Clay. Called Songs of Praise, the 90 minute Christmas special will debut on DirectTV channel 103 on November 24 and will run continuously throughout the rest of November and December. According the press release seen below, Clay will be performing "Silver Bells".

Here is DirectTV's full press release:

DIRECTV Heralds in the Holiday Season with Grammy Award-Winner Amy Grant and NASCAR Legend Darrell Waltrip in Songs of Praise for Christmas

New Entry in DIRECTV’s Successful Songs of Praise Series Features Inspirational Performances by Clay Aiken, Nicole C. Mullen, Michael W. Smith, the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir and the Alfred Street Choir

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DIRECTV, the nation’s leading satellite television service provider, heralds in the holiday season with Songs of Praise for Christmas, a 90-minute television special hosted by Grammy Award-Winner Amy Grant and NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip. This all-new Christmas special debuts November 24 exclusively on DIRECTV Channel 103 and will run continuously through the month of December. Featured performances from celebrated artists and choirs include Clay Aiken, Grammy-Award winners Nicole C. Mullen and Michael W. Smith, as well as the famed Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.

A follow-up to the tremendously popular Songs of Praise debut last Easter, Songs of Praise for Christmas will take viewers on a musical journey through the story of Christmas. DIRECTV viewers will be treated to Clay Aiken’s rendition of Silver Bells, Nicole C. Mullen’s performance of O Come O Come Emmanuel, and Michael W. Smith’s Silent Night. The special will also feature inspirational performances from choirs around the country including the Brentwood Baptist Church, Crystal Cathedral, the Hyde Park Baptist Church and the Anderson University Choral Group.

“We were literally overcome with emotional feedback from the millions of viewers who tuned into the Songs of Praise debut last Easter,” said DIRECTV President of Entertainment David Hill. “Following that sensational start, we’ve decided to extend the special to a full 90-minutes and are excited to have Christian music leaders like Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and singing phenomenon Clay Aiken on our roster for this new addition to the series.”

Songs of Praise for Christmas is part of an ongoing DIRECTV initiative to bring more religious programming to DIRECTV subscribers. Beginning November 24, this 90-minute special will air on DIRECTV channel 103 continually through December 31. Songs of Praise for Christmas will premiere on DIRECTV’s channel 103 alongside a variety of other exclusive spiritual programs, including Sunday Masses from Notre Dame and The Very First Noel, an animated family program telling the story of Christmas, through out the month of December.

“The Brooklyn Tabernacle is honored to be a part of another special with DIRECTV,” exclaimed Jim Cymbala, Pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Church. “Our hope is for viewers to be inspired to draw nearer to God through these Songs of Praise.”

Songs of Praise for Christmas is produced by DIRECTV Original Entertainment in conjunction with Propeller Consulting and Triplehorse Entertainment for broadcast exclusively on DIRECTV and is available at no additional cost to all DIRECTV subscribers.

For more information on the artists and choirs performing in Songs of Praise for Christmas, please visit our website at www.directv.com/songsofpraise

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