Grammy Award-winning singer Mary J. Blige will be in the star-studded lineup when the 13th Annual “A Home for the Holidays with Martina McBride,” an entertainment special, airs at 8 p.m., Wednesday, December 21 on CBS.
Now a time-honored tradition, the inspirational hour will also include performances by country superstar Martina McBride, pop/R&B superstar Justin Bieber, platinum recording artist Gavin DeGraw, rock group OneRepublic and singer/songwriter Christina Perri. Actress Katherine Heigl, who adopted a child, her sister Meg Heigl-Beltran, who was adopted, and actress Denise Richards, who adopted a child, will be among the presenters.
Following the success of the past 12 annual shows, the special continues to tell touching stories about adoption from foster care to raise awareness for this important social issue. The inspirational stories of these American families are enhanced with performances by some of today’s most popular artists.
Some of the musical performances accompany story segments which are introduced by celebrities who have their own adoption experiences or are involved with children’s issues. The stories highlight exceptional American children and families involved in this rewarding process, including the Henderson Family (Helena, Ala.), the Kerin Family (Castle Rock, Colo.), Shanie Evans (Los Angeles) and the Greenhow Family (Los Angeles).
“I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for the people who nurtured the foundation of who I could become,” says Shanie Evans. Placed in foster care at age 12, she moved through more than a dozen placements and schools until she aged-out at 18 without a family. Desperate for a job, she applied at a theater company in hope of finding work as a janitor. However, Evans was asked to sing and booked the lead role in the musical “The Wiz.” “Suddenly, I had people who believed in me and it changed my life forever,” says Evans. “There are so many foster children waiting for a loving family, and it’s not too late for them. You just need to have the heart to say yes, and that’s where it all starts.”
According to the network, there are more than half a million children currently in foster care in the United States. A segment of “A Home for the Holidays with Martina McBride” gives voice to these children by creating an intimate portrait of youth who need permanent loving homes.
Contact Tribune entertainment reporter Kimberly C. Roberts at (215) 893-5753 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
