The Hallmark Channel is bringing nostalgia, time-travel, and country music to *Countdown to Christmas* this year with "A Grand Ole Opry Christmas," a brand-new Christmas movie starring Nikki DeLoach and Kristoffer Polaha!
The story follows Gentry Woods (played by Nikki DeLoach), the daughter of late country music legend Jett Woods. Once an aspiring songwriter herself, Gentry walked away from the music world after her father’s tragic car accident thirty years ago. But when the Grand Ole Opry invites her to honor her father at its centennial Christmas celebration, an unexpected twist of Christmas magic transports her back to 1995.
In the past, she crosses paths with her best friend Mac (played by Kristoffer Polaha), a country music talent manager who is also swept back in time. Together, they face old wounds, rediscover lost dreams, and uncover long-buried truths about Gentry’s father, finding healing and hope in the process.
Adding even more star power, country superstar Brad Paisley is writing and performing original songs for the film, including the theme for this year’s *Countdown to Christmas*.
Hallmark’s Chief Brand Officer Darren Abbott calls the project a perfect pairing of heartfelt storytelling with the Opry’s 100th anniversary, and filming will take place in real Opry locations to give the movie an authentic Nashville feel.
With this amazing cast and storyline, "A Grand Ole Opry Christmas" promises to strike all the right chords this Christmas!
Check out the official press release from Hallmark Media below...
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER,
HALLMARK AND THE
GRAND OLE OPRY
SHARE THE HOLIDAY STAGE
IN CELEBRATION OF
THE OPRY'S CENTENNIAL YEAR
CHRISTMAS AND COUNTRY
COMBINE TO MAKE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC
WHEN NIKKI DELOACH
AND KRISTOFFER POLAHA
STAR IN
"A GRAND OLE OPRY CHRISTMAS"
DEBUTING THIS YEAR
DURING HALLMARK CHANNEL'S
16TH ANNUAL COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS PROGRAMMING EVENT
GRAMMY(R) AWARD-WINNING
COUNTRY SUPERSTAR
AND OPRY MEMBER BRAD PAISLEY
TO WRITE AND PERFORM
ORIGINAL MUSIC FOR THE MOVIE
Paisley will Also Write and Record the Anthem for Hallmark Channel's 2025 Holiday Campaign
Grand Ole Opry Superstar Members Set to Appear
Production Begins Later This Month at Iconic Locations Including the Grand Ole Opry House
Exclusive Collection of Hallmark and Opry Co-Branded Products to Celebrate the Brand Partnership Available This Holiday Season
STUDIO CITY, CA and NASHVILLE, TN - August 11, 2025 - Hallmark Channel, the perennial, undisputed #1 destination for holiday movie viewing and the Grand Ole Opry, the show that made country music famous, are setting the stage for a magical trip across time with A Grand Ole Opry Christmas, a new, original movie starring Nikki DeLoach (Curious Caterer Mysteries, Our Holiday Story) and Kristoffer Polaha (A Biltmore Christmas, The Christmas Quest), premiering this year during Hallmark Channel's 16th annual Countdown to Christmas programming event. Production begins later this month at iconic locations including the Grand Ole Opry House. The movie will feature familiar faces from the Opry's star-studded cast, with artists to be announced at a later date.
The network also announced that GRAMMY(R) Award-winning country music superstar and Opry member Brad Paisley will write original music for A Grand Ole Opry Christmas and will also perform. Additionally, Paisley will write and record the official anthem for the network's 2025 Countdown to Christmas on-air campaign.
"As the Grand Ole Opry celebrates its 100th birthday this year, this is the perfect time for us to partner with this beloved, iconic American institution and create Christmas magic together," remarked Darren Abbott, Chief Brand Officer, Hallmark. "Nikki and Kris are fan favorites and we know they will beautifully bring to life this emotional and heartfelt story that is sure to become an instant classic."
"Our goal in this milestone year is to put the Opry, its artists and the rich songwriting traditions that have made country music a global sensation in front of more people than ever before," said Colin Reed, Executive Chairman of Ryman Hospitality Properties, the Opry's parent company. "Our partnership with Hallmark brings these elements to life this holiday season through a creative and uplifting take on a uniquely Nashville story."
"Having the incredibly talented Brad Paisley write and perform original music for the movie is what Christmas dreams are made of," Abbott continued. "And we're equally excited to have him write and record an original song that will be the soundtrack of our on-air campaign throughout the season."
"The Hallmark Channel to me is a major part of finding the joy and the spirit of the holidays," said Paisley. "We turn it on and leave it on in our house like Christmas tree lights or decorations, it's a major part of the atmosphere for us. I loved the challenge of creating that same magic with this music by letting it take you to the same place that these movies and this world Hallmark has built. Can't wait for you to hear what all we've done. Also, knowing the Opry is the setting for one of these movies is very inspiring."
Hallmark is launching an exclusive collection of Hallmark and Opry co-branded products including greeting cards, apparel, accessories, jewelry and gifts - the perfect way for fans to celebrate Christmas in country style. The collection will be available to shop later this year at Hallmark.com, Shop.Opry.com, The Opry Shops and at the Hallmark Christmas Experience in Kansas City.
ABOUT A GRAND OLE OPRY CHRISTMAS
Gentry Woods (DeLoach), daughter of late country music icon Jett Woods - half of the famed duo Winter and Woods - abandoned her dream of a songwriting career and distanced herself from her father's legacy following his tragic car accident 30 years prior. When the Grand Ole Opry invites her to represent Jett at their centennial celebration at Christmas, she's hesitant to return to the place steeped in bittersweet memories. Encouraged by her good friends, Gentry visits the Opry and, while seated in one of the vaunted venue's oak church pews, is suddenly transported to 1995. Gentry's lifelong friend Mac (Polaha) a country music talent manager, finds himself in 1995 as well. Thanks to some Christmas magic, Gentry gets precious time with her father, creative inspiration to finish the song she began decades earlier as a teen and learns surprising answers to questions about her father that have followed her for the last three decades.
ABOUT OPRY 100
The Opry 100 celebration pays tribute to the artists, fans and songs that have cemented the Opry as the cultural heart and home of country music since its debut on WSM radio in 1925. For more information, please visit Opry.com.
# # #
ABOUT HALLMARK MEDIA
Owned and operated by Hallmark Cards, Inc., Hallmark Media is entertainment's leading destination for feel-good content. Hallmark Channel features an ambitious slate of new, original movies, scripted series, and the popular annual holiday franchise, Countdown to Christmas. Hallmark Mystery features a unique mix of movies and acquired series focused on the lighter side of the suspense and mystery genres, as well as its own seasonal programming event, Miracles of Christmas. Hallmark Family showcases timeless storytelling for the whole family centered around faith, love, and community. The company's subscription streaming service and membership program, Hallmark+ offers a distinctive blend of all new, exclusive original series and movies, next-day access to Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Mystery premieres, plus monthly discounts and rewards for shopping at Hallmark Gold Crown retail stores. For more information, please visit www.corporate.hallmarkmedia.com.
ABOUT THE GRAND OLE OPRY
The Grand Ole Opry is the home of country music where artists and fans gather, in person and virtually, to celebrate and be part of country's past, present and future. Founded in Nashville in 1925 and today the longest-running live broadcast show in the world, the Opry strengthens its roots by constantly evolving. The Opry's members are country's most emblematic artists, and the show regularly showcases country music's top new talent. The Opry welcomes legions of fans to visit the Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee - Music City, USA - to experience one of the 3-7 live shows it hosts per week; take a backstage tour; listen to live broadcasts on opry.com and wsmonline.com, SiriusXM Willie's Roadhouse, or its flagship home WSM Radio; and watch Opry Live on Saturday nights and Opry content all week long on Circle Country. The Grand Ole Opry is part of Opry Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of Ryman Hospitality Properties (NYSE: RHP).
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My Quick Take:
I'm absolutely thrilled that the Hallmark Channel is paying tribute to the Grand Ole Opry in its 100th anniversary year! As a longtime fan of country music’s rich roots, I’m eagerly looking forward to hearing about all of the talented singers featured, along with Brad Paisley, in this exciting movie project.
And I’m especially excited to see Kristoffer Polaha time-travel once again since he truly stole our hearts with his role in "A Biltmore Christmas"!
Hallmark has also celebrated country music through these notable holiday movies: "A Nashville Christmas Carol," "It's Christmas, Eve," "Christmas at Graceland," "Wedding at Graceland," "Christmas at Graceland: Home for the Holidays," "A Homecoming for the Holidays," all of the "Time to Come Home for Christmas" films, and more! I can’t wait to add this new film to the list!
Stay "tuned," everyone,
for more
festive movie news!
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