Lauren Alaina Suddeth performing in three holiday TV specials
Friday, November 18, 2011
In this file photo, Lauren Alaina arrives at the 2011 CMT Music Awards in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes)Local singing sensation Lauren Alaina is making a whirlwind of holiday appearances at venues ranging from the home of "The King" to the home of the president within the next week.
Tonight, Alaina flips the switch at Graceland in Memphis to launch the holiday lights celebration at the home of the late Elvis Presley, according to Dixie Owen, senior director of artist and media relations at UMG Nashville.
Alaina, the junior at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School who came in second on Season 10 of "American Idol," will light up Graceland at 6 p.m. CST. Fans can watch the event online with live streaming on www.Elvis.com.
On Monday, the Rossville teen will join some of country music's biggest stars to perform before President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama at "Country Music: In Performance at the White House."
Other musicians performing on the 60-minute special will be The Band Perry, Dierks Bentley, Alison Krauss, Kris Kristofferson, Lyle Lovett, Darius Rucker and James Taylor, according to Carrie Johnson, PBS publicist, in a news release.
The PBS special will be taped in the East Room of the White House and air Wednesday at 8 p.m. on PBS stations. It also will air at a later date on the American Forces Network to servicemen and women at locations around the world.
On Nov. 24, Alaina will kick off the first game in the NFL's Thanksgiving Day football triple-header. She will sing the national anthem at the Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers game. Game time is 12:30 p.m. on Fox.
The singer's fans can tune in Dec. 1 at 9 p.m. to catch her on ABC's holiday special, "CMA Country Christmas," hosted by Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles.
Alaina will sing "My Grown-Up Christmas List," according to ABC publicist Wendy Pearl. Other stars on the show will be Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Martina McBride and Rascal Flatts.
Alaina's debut album, "Wildflower," was No. 5 on Billlboard's Top 200 album chart when was it released on Oct. 11, making her the youngest female artist to debut that high on the Billboard charts since LeAnn Rimes' debut 15 years ago, said Owen.
"Wildflower" is still on Billboard's Hot Country Albums chart at No. 10.