Big Machine to Release “A Very Special Christmas 25th Anniversary” Collection

Top: Big Machine Release. Bottom: Word Release

Big Machine Records will release A Very Special Christmas 25th Anniversary collection on October 16 as a benefit for the Special Olympics.

Artists on the collection include Rascal Flatts, Vince Gill, The Band Perry, Amy Grant, Jason Mraz, Christina Aguilera, Francesca Battistelli, Michael Bublé, Cheap Trick, Dave Matthews, One Republic, Train and Wonder Girls.

The release will be made in conjunction with A Very Special Christmas: Bringing Peace on Earth, released with Word Records on the same day, featuring Meredith Andrews, Chris August, Francesca Battistelli, Big Daddy Weave, Jason Castro, Group 1 Crew, for KING & COUNTRY, Dara Maclean, Jamie Grace, Natalie Grant, and Sidewalk Prophets.

Timothy P. Shriver, Chairman and CEO of Special Olympics; Scott Borchetta, President and CEO of Big Machine Label Group; Rod Riley, President and CEO of Word Entertainment; Jimmy Clark, Special Olympics athlete and Global Messenger; Nashville Mayor Karl Dean; Francesca Battistelli and members of Train made the announcement today (8/6) at Blackbird Studios in Nashville, where Train is recording “Joy to the World.”

“This album series has been a remarkable gift to our Special Olympics athletes,” said Shriver. “Thanks to the generosity of countless incredible people across the music industry, the legacy from the A Very Special Christmas album series continues to support and sustain our work to bring the joy of sport to people with intellectual disabilities which in turn fosters a global community of acceptance and inclusion.”

This 25th Anniversary marks more than $100 million raised through the album series, which has seen help from artist such as U2, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Madonna, Sting, Bon Jovi, Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson and Sheryl Crow.

Grants from the Christmas Record Trust have enabled Special Olympics to implement programs worldwide. In the United States, these funds have supported Special Olympics programs in urban areas such as New York City, Philadelphia and New Orleans.

Learn more about A Very Special Christmas visit here.