BREAKING: NBC just unwrapped A Motown Christmas, and it is pure holiday joy, wrapped in silk and soul. The two hour special pairs Motown royalty with today’s hitmakers, and the result feels both classic and fresh. This is how you honor a legacy, and invite new fans in at the same time.
The Night Motown Took Back December
Smokey Robinson and Halle Bailey set the tone from the first beat. Smokey was the living timeline, calm and charming. Halle brought bright, modern sparkle, then stepped into full diva mode when the music called. Together, they bridged decades with ease.
The stage leaned on live groove, not digital tricks. Emmy winning music director Rickey Minor drove an 11 piece band that snapped, swung, and soared. Horns punched. Tambourines shimmered. The rhythm section kept everything in the pocket, song after song.
The show packed more than 25 Motown hits into two hours, anchored by Rickey Minor’s powerhouse band.
Legends, New Voices, One Songbook
Gladys Knight walked out and the room shifted. Her voice was warm and steady, and the audience leaned in. Martha Reeves and the Vandellas lit the fuse with a joyful blast. The Temptations reminded everyone why “My Girl” still melts winter air.
Halle Bailey saluted Diana Ross and the Supremes with a sleek, classy medley. Every turn, every harmony, felt like a love letter. Andra Day’s salute to Berry Gordy was tender and fierce, a thank you to the architect. Jamie Foxx played host and hitmaker at once, riffing through Stevie Wonder gems with BeBe Winans and Jordin Sparks. It was playful, then powerful, then playful again.
Ashanti glided through “Santa Baby,” coy and stylish, with a wink. Pentatonix stacked harmonies like ornaments, clean and gleaming. October London and JoJo slow danced into Marvin Gaye territory, plush and smoky. Machine Gun Kelly surprised with “Last Christmas,” flipped with a Motown chassis, bass and backbeat up front.
The songbook did the heavy lifting: “Superstition,” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “Reach Out,” and more. Each one got a fresh coat of holiday sparkle, never losing the original soul.
[IMAGE_2]
Four moments that stopped time
- Gladys Knight’s velvet hush, then that soaring final note
- Halle Bailey channeling Supremes elegance without imitation
- The Temptations locking in tight, steps and vocals in sync
- Andra Day turning a tribute into a testimony
A Bridge Between Generations
Motown has always been family music, made for living rooms and long car rides. Tonight, that spirit showed up on screen. You could feel households humming along. Parents mouthed “My Girl.” Teens perked up at Halle and JoJo. Grandparents nodded when Smokey smiled. The baton passed in real time, song by song.
The special nods to the 1973 double LP A Motown Christmas, and you can hear it. There is history in the groove. Yet these arrangements invite new ears. Modern voices stay respectful, but they also take chances. The trick is restraint. Stay inside the groove, then push the emotion. This special does that again and again.
Not every risk lands for every listener. A pop standard like “Last Christmas” sits outside the core Motown lane. But the band keeps the house style tight, so the night holds together. When the horns catch, and the tambourine ticks, it still feels like Detroit in December.
Missed the broadcast, watch A Motown Christmas on Peacock after the NBC premiere.
Why This Matters Right Now
Holiday TV can get loud and empty. This one is loud and full. It gives elders their soundtrack back, and it hands younger fans a starter pack to greatness. The show does more than cover hits. It shows how those hits work. Groove first. Melody next. Heart on top.
If you care about pop history, this is a teachable playlist. If you just want a great night of music, it delivers. And if you needed a moment of joy before the year ends, consider that box checked. 🎁
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When did A Motown Christmas air?
A: It premiered on NBC on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, from 9 to 11 p.m. ET.
Q: Where can I watch it now?
A: It is streaming on Peacock following the NBC broadcast.
Q: Who hosted the special?
A: Smokey Robinson and Halle Bailey shared hosting duties and performed.
Q: Which artists performed?
A: Gladys Knight, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, The Temptations, Ashanti, Andra Day, Jamie Foxx, BeBe Winans, Jordin Sparks, Machine Gun Kelly, Pentatonix, October London, JoJo, and more.
Q: What songs were featured?
A: Over 25 classics, including “My Girl,” “Superstition,” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” and “Reach Out.”
Final Word
A Motown Christmas does the rare thing. It honors the past, entertains the present, and seeds the future. The sound is alive, the stars are locked in, and the season just found its beat. Turn it up, gather your people, and let Motown warm the room.
