PRESS RELEASE: The 87th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade

The 87th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade, the largest Christmas event in America, announces the 2018 talent lineup for its landmark anniversary celebration, which will take place on Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California, on Sunday, November 25, 2018, at 5:00 p.m. PT.  This year, the Hollywood Christmas Parade features a reunion with some of American Idol’s top performers. With Nancy O’Dell as Grand Marshal, musical performances will be featured during the parade and national telecast, and will include the following artists: Ashanti, Clare Dunn, The Band Of Merrymakers, The Tearaways, David Archuleta, Ruben Studdard, Elliott Yamin, Blake Lewis, Kimberly Caldwell, Mikalah Gordon, Julia Ara and more to be announced soon.  For the telecast only, additional appearances will include performances by Donny and Marie Osmond, The Beach Boys performing Mike Love’s new single “(You’ll Never Be) Alone on Christmas Day”, Jane Lynch, Kate Flannery and Tim Davis.  The parade will also feature a special tribute for Toys for Tots from Ludacris and a magic performance by stars of The CW hit series, “Masters of Illusion.”

The 87th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade will be hosted by Erik Estrada, Laura McKenzie, Dean Cain and Montel Williams, with special co-hosts Elizabeth Stanton and Garrett Clayton.  Taped for network television, the live event will premiere as a two-hour special on The CW on Friday, December 14 at 8:00 p.m. ET / PT (7:00 p.m. CT).  The parade, featuring Marine Toys for Tots program, which is essential in providing gifts to less fortunate children everywhere, will also air to more than one million American service men and women worldwide on American Forces Network.  The event will be presented and produced by Associated Television International, in association with The City of Los Angeles. 

A true Hollywood yearly tradition, the parade attracts more than one million in attendance each year, with larger than life inflatable character balloons, award winning bands, colorful equestrians, ornate floats, popular characters/novelties, celebrity filled cars and, of course, Santa Claus making the much heralded trek down the over three mile parade route. 

For information on how to purchase Grandstand Seats to the parade, please visit www.thehollywoodchristmasparade.org

About the performers:

ASHANTI (http://www.ashantithisisme.com/)           

Ashanti’s smash hit debut album, the self-titled Ashanti, sold over 503,000 units in its first week and landed her the #1 spot on both the Billboard Top 200 and R&B album charts, and a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most albums sold by a debut female artist. In addition, her first three chart entries landed in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time, making Billboard history, tying the Beatles. That year, her album “Ashanti” won the GRAMMY for Best Contemporary R&B Album, eight Billboard Awards, two American Music Awards and she was presented with the Soul Train Aretha Franklin Entertainer of the Year Award.

Over the last decade, Ashanti was Executive Producer and starred in “Mothers & Daughters” and has appeared in a number of films, including Coach Carter, John Tucker Must Die, and Resident Evil 4.  Her television credits include being a regular on “Army Wives” and “Christmas in the City” both on Lifetime.  She has recorded five more albums, penned a book of poetry, starred on Broadway and launched the fragrance Precious JewelAshanti received the 2013 Soul Train Award for Best Independent R&B/Soul Performance for “Never Should Have” from her “Braveheart” album. She is currently the first Female African American to own her record label Written Entertainment. She released her 5th studio album “Braveheart” on her label which was the Billboard #1 Independent Album in the Country in March 2014.  Ashanti is the Executive Producer of her latest film “Stuck” in which she also co-stars with Academy Award Nominee Amy Madigan and Giancarlo Esposito.


CLARE DUNN (http://www.claredunn.com/)

Clare Dunn is an American country musician from southeast Colorado. After support from satellite radio as a "Highway Find" on The Highway (Sirius XM), she signed with Universal Music Group Nashville and BMG. She has opened for many notable country acts such as Florida Georgia Line, Chris Young, Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban, Hank Williams, Jr., and Trace Adkins.


BAND OF MERRYMAKERS (http://bandofmerrymakers.com/)

Band of Merrymakers is a rotating-cast holiday supergroup that was created by hit songwriters Sam Hollander and Kevin Griffin in 2014. The group was established with the philanthropic goal of raising awareness and donations for non-profit organizations and charities. The group’s Top 10 iTunes holiday charting debut album, WELCOME TO OUR CHRISTMAS PARTY, was released in 2015, through Sony Masterworks, and featured guest appearances from Christina Perri, Mark McGrath (Sugar Ray), Alex & Sierra, Natasha Bedingfield, Michael Fitzpatrick (Fitz & The Tantrums), Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum, Owl City, Bebe Rexha, Nick Hexum (311), Andrew McMahon (Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness), Jason Wade (Lifehouse), David Ryan Harris, David Hodges (Evanescence), The Mowglis, Street Corner Symphony, 3OH!3 and Dan Wilson (Semitonic).  The group is currently hard at work on the highly anticipated follow-up to their debut album, and their new single “Christmas Everyday” featuring Charity Daw will be released November 9.


THE TEARAWAYS (http://www.tearaways.com/)

The Tearaways are a pop/rock band from Santa Barbara, California most known for mixing Beatlesque music with “California Rock” for a British Invasion meets California rock sound.  They have been popular in Southern California since their formation in 1981 when they released their first EP on Stellar Records SOUNDS LIKE… THE TEARAWAYS to their most recent release ESQUIRE in 2017.   The group has performed both at public and private venues worldwide and have drawn praise from the likes of Piers Morgan, Tom Hanks, legendary Los Angeles Disc Jockey Rodney Bingenheimer, Legendary L.A. Times Rock Critic Robert Hilburn and legendary BBC Disc Jockey Billy Butler, to name a few.  The band features John Ferriter (Bass Guitar, Guitar and Vocals), Greg Brallier (Vocals, Guitar and Harmonica), David Hekhouse (Vocals and Guitar) and Finseth (Vocals, Guitar, Bass and Percussion). Clem Burke and Kenny Aronoff have been playing the drums of late for The Tearaways. The band has released five full CD’s co-produced by Earle Mankey, Ferriter and Finseth in the last five years. 


DAVID ARCHULETA (http://www.davidarchuleta.com/)

David Archuleta became a star when he was just 16. In 2008 more than 30 million television viewers fell in love with his angelic voice and their 44 million votes made him runner-up in Season 7 of “American Idol.” 

Soon after, the young Utahan had his first single “Crush,” debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart the week of its release. Since then Archuleta has released 7 albums, including “Postcards In The Sky” featuring all original songs that he co-wrote after returning from a two-year missionary stint outside Santiago, Chile. David is overjoyed for his next album “Winter in the Air” to be released November 2. This will be his second Christmas album with a mix of covers and three original songs co-written by David.


RUBEN STUDDARD (https://www.rubenstuddard.com/)

Fox Television’s “American Idol” television talent competition crowned Studdard its 2003 winner after he pulled 32 million votes and became a household name. In the ensuing years, the Velvet Teddy Bear (as Gladys Knight nicknamed him for his smoothly soothing vocal style) has produced a string of gold and platinum albums, toured as Fats Waller in a national stage tour of “Ain’t Misbehavin’, appeared on various television shows, toured in the comedy drama “Heaven I Need A Hug” with Robin Givens and played a pastor in the Trace Adkins film, “Lifted.”

Along the way, he’s also picked up Grammy and American Music Award nominations and turned out now classic urban radio hits like “Sorry 2004,” “Superstar,” “Make Ya Feel Beautiful” and “Change Me.” He also scored a #1 Gospel hit with “I Need An Angel.”  Ruben is also a Soul Train award nominee, and was the recipient of a NAACP award


ELLIOTT YAMIN (http://officialelliottyamin.com/)

Yamin launched his recording career following his appearance on American Idol
Season 5 as the top 3 finalist with his highly anticipated debut album Elliott Yamin, which debuted at Number Three on the Billboard album chart and was the highest debuting album by an independent artist in SoundScan history.

Yamin continues to tour domestically and internationally, including three trips to Africa as a spokesman to the ‘Malaria no More Foundation’ as well as a variety of charities, relief groups and peace organizations. Having been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 16, he has worked tirelessly as an activist and spokesman for the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) to help create awareness and raise money for research.


BLAKE LEWIS (http://www.blakelewisofficial.com/)

Blake Lewis first came to national attention as one of the most unique contestants ever to compete on American Idol. With the release of his ambitious and completely independent third album, Portrait of a Chameleon, Blake is taking things to a whole new level.

The follow-up to the critically acclaimed Audio Day Dream and Heartbreak on Vinyl (the title track of which went to #1 twice on Billboard's dance charts), Portrait of a Chameleon is "fun, sexy, and positive. Using Blake's own library of sampled mouth sounds ("beatboxing, sound effects, vocal scratching, the works") as its foundation, Portrait of a Chameleon has a hypermodern feel, and Blake is looking ahead, hoping that his "future pop" will connect with fans of all ages.


KIMBERLY CALDWELL (https://kimberly-caldwell.com/)

Kimberly Caldwell-Harvey, became a household name as a finalist on Season 2 of American Idol. For the next decade, she collected television hosting credits with TV Guide Network, MTV, VH1, CBS, E! and Oxygen Network plus co-wrote and released her debut album with Capitol Records. She is honored to be the Celebrity Columnist and Star Beauty Blogger for the number-one-selling hair and beauty magazine in the world, Sophisticates Hairstyle Guide. She continues to perform at events internationally and even shows off her acting chops landing guest roles for film and television. She currently is a regular “Straight Talk” panelist on The Steve Harvey Show. She has recently performed the National Anthem at Dodgers Stadium before a winning game. She’s wife to Major League Soccer veteran Jordan Harvey and Mom to three-year-old daughter Harlow who all currently reside in sunny California. She just landed a gig as a correspondent for a new entertainment show called California Live on KNBC starting in the new year.


MIKALAH GORDON (http://www.mikalahgordon.com/)

Mikalah Gordon made her entertainment debut as a Top 12 contestant on season 4 of American Idol. Audiences fell in love with her powerful voice and unique stage presence, and she’s been hitting all the right notes ever since. Her run on Idol earned her a record deal with famed judge Randy Jackson on Interscope Records, making her a household name. In addition to her vocal success, Mikalah has made her mark on the LA comedy scene with her edgy stand up performances, headlining at The Comedy Store, and The Laugh Factory. The spicy comedienne has starred on the WB sitcom “Living with Fran”, with Fran Drescher, a field correspondent for “The Tyra Banks Show” and “The TV Guide Network”, and served as a co-host on “American Idol Extra”. Mikalah has also proven a knack for the dramatic starring on the CBS hit show “The Unit”. She was recently a featured resident singer with Post Modern Jukebox in Los Angeles, and now you can catch this soulful chanteuse at The Cosmopolitan Of Las Vegas Hotel’s Rose. Rabbit. Lie. In addition to heating up the stage in Vegas, Mikalah is leaving her mark on the YouTube community. Check her out as Melania Trump on “Inside Melania” and host of “Idolatry,” where she gets to chat with former “American Idol” coaches and contestants. Mikalah is also the morning show host for the first LGBTQ radio station on FM Monday - Friday, OUT NOW.

MASTERS OF ILLUSION (http://www.mastersofillusionlive.com/)

Starring the world's greatest award-winning magicians, this show is unlike anything you have seen before - filled with modern illusions and arts of deception, performed live on stage. Audiences will be held at the edge of their seats by the jaw-dropping grand illusions, and laugh out loud at the hysterical comedy magic as performers from around the world combine fantasy, fervor and flair with magic created in front of their very eyes. Masters of Illusion has performed live in front of tens of thousands of people around the US for the past six years and been seen by over 100 million viewers on the CW network as well as in 126 countries around the world.

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