Christmas in Washington
Introduction '''''Christmas in Washington''''' was an annual Christmas television special that originated on NBC and later aired on the TNT network. It ended in 2015 after a 33-year run.
Background One of two annual holiday specials produced by George Stevens Jr. (the other being the ''Kennedy Center Honors''), the variety show first aired in 1982 on NBC before moving to its most recent home on TNT in 1998.Recorded in Washington, D.C. at the National Building Museum, on the second Sunday of each December before being re-edited for later broadcast, ''Christmas in Washington'' is a one-hour concert featuring artists from musical genres. Each guest performs at least one solo, but the prominent marquee performer usually has one or two more songs. The show sometimes had at least one guest from the world of opera. Each of the musical performances are backed by a full orchestra and chorus. The show's finale consisted of a medley performed by all the musical guests before the attendees-of-honor, the President of the United States and the First Lady, make a closing statement followed by the singing of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing".Recent events have benefited Children's National Medical Center.
Host and performers From 2004 to 2008, the show was hosted by Dr. Phil and his wife, Robin. However, since 2009 and for the remainder of its most recent run, the show had a single host. The 2013 edition featured Hugh Jackman as host and  The Backstreet Boys as marquee performers, marking the first time in six years that a group has been featured as marquee performers. The show aired live on pay-per-view internationally and in most major cities, after which a re-edited 42-minute version (with commercials in a one-hour slot) aired on network television.
Cancellation In 2015, shortly after the Stevens' production company sold the rights to their companion program, the ''Kennedy Center Honors'', the special was cancelled after being unable to find a new network or presenting sponsor (TNT had declined to renew the show after the 2014 edition).
Editions The marquee performer is marked in '''bold'''. Year Host Performers 1982 Dinah Shore *'''Dinah Shore'''*Diahann Carroll*John Schneider*Debby Boone*Ben Vereen*Shiloh Baptist Church Choir*United States Naval Academy Glee Club 1983 Andy Williams *'''Andy Williams'''*Julio Iglesias*Leslie Uggams*United States Naval Academy Glee Club 1984 Hal Linden *'''The Osmonds'''*Frederica von Stade*Nell Carter*United States Naval Academy Glee Club 1985 Tom Brokaw*'''Pat Boone'''*Natalie Cole*Amy Grant*United States Naval Academy Glee Club 1986 John Forsythe*'''Mac Davis'''*Sandi Patty*Shiloh Baptist Church Choir*United States Naval Academy Glee Club 1987 Barbara Mandrell*'''Barbara Mandrell'''*Marilyn McCoo*Jack Jones*Vienna Boys' Choir*United States Naval Academy Glee Club 1988 James Stewart*'''Vikki Carr'''*Shirley Jones*Kathleen Battle*Gary Morris*Eastern High School Choir*United States Naval Academy Glee Club 1989 Olivia Newton-John*'''Olivia Newton-John'''*Diahann Carroll*Vic Damone*Sir James Galway*Michael W. Smith; Take 6*Eastern High School Choir*United States Naval Academy Glee Club 1990  John Denver*'''John Denver'''*Reba McEntire*Aretha Franklin*Eastern High School Choir 1991  *'''Anita Baker'''*Vince Gill*Johnny Mathis*Anne Murray*Eastern High School Choir 1992  Julie Andrews*'''Peabo Bryson'''*Neil Diamond*Midori 1993  Kirstie Alley*'''Mary Chapin Carpenter'''*Patti LaBelle*Wynton Marsalis*Aaron Neville*Ricky Van Shelton*Eastern High School Choir 1994  Helen Hunt*'''Anita Baker'''*Jon Secada*Kathy Mattea*Tim McGraw*Kenny G*Sounds of Blackness*Eastern High School Choir 1995  Kelsey GrammerDavid Hyde PierceJane LeevesPeri GilpinJohn Mahoney*'''Clint Black'''*Gloria Estefan*Al Green*Eastern High School Choir 1996 John LithgowJoseph Gordon-LevittKristen JohnstonFrench StewartJane Curtin* '''Luther Vandross'''* Faith Hill* CeCe Winans* Ruth Ann Swenson*Eastern High School Choir 1997 Glenn Close*'''Hanson'''*Deana Carter*Aaliyah*Shirley Caesar*Eastern High School Choir 1998 Brooke Shields* '''Kenny Loggins'''* Martina McBride* Aretha Franklin* Audra McDonald*Eastern High School Choir 1999 Brendan Fraser* '''Christina Aguilera'''* B.B. King* Jewel* 98 Degrees 2000 Sarah Michelle Gellar *'''Marc Anthony'''*Chuck Berry*Jessica Simpson*The Corrs*Billy Gilman 2001 Reba McEntire*'''Tony Bennett'''*Charlotte Church*Mandy Moore*Usher 2002 Katie Holmes *'''Brooks & Dunn'''*Alison Krauss*The Brian Setzer Orchestra*Yolanda Adams  2003 Patricia Heaton*'''Ashanti'''*Kenny Chesney*Joss Stone*Renée Fleming 2004 Phil McGraw and Robin McGraw*'''LeAnn Rimes'''*JoJo*Vanessa Williams*Ruben Studdard 2005 *'''Rascal Flatts'''*Carrie Underwood*Ciara*Jane Monheit*The Click Five*CeCe Winans 2006 *'''Taylor Hicks'''*Il Divo*Gretchen Wilson*Chris Brown*Corinne Bailey Rae*Bianca Ryan 2007 *'''Katharine McPhee'''*'''Ne-Yo'''*'''Vanessa Hudgens'''*Alan Jackson*Colbie Caillat*Heather Headley*Andrea Bocelli 2008 *'''Casting Crowns'''*Kristin Chenoweth*Julianne Hough*Darius Rucker*Straight No Chaser 2009 George Lopez*'''Mary J. Blige'''*Neil Diamond*Sugarland*Rob Thomas*Usher*Justin Bieber 2010 Ellen DeGeneres*'''Mariah Carey'''*Miranda Cosgrove*Andrea Bocelli*Annie Lennox*Maxwell*Matthew Morrison 2011 Conan O'Brien*'''Justin Bieber'''*CeeLo Green*The Band Perry*Jennifer Hudson*Victoria Justice 2012*'''Diana Ross'''*Demi Lovato*Megan Hilty*Scotty McCreery*Chris Mann*Psy 2013 Hugh Jackman*'''Backstreet Boys'''*Sheryl Crow*Anna Kendrick*Janelle Monáe*Pat Monahan 2014 Dwayne Johnson*'''Darius Rucker'''*Aloe Blacc*Christina Perri*Hunter Hayes*Rita Ora
References Source: for ''Christmas in Washington'' 2000: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0271434/