GREAT AMERICAN FAMILY ANNOUNCES STELLAR ENSEMBLE CAST TO STAR IN ORIGINAL CHRISTMAS MOVIE,
A LITTLE WOMEN’S CHRISTMAS,
STARRING TREVOR DONOVAN, JEN LILLEY, LAURA OSNES, JESSE HUTCH, JILLIAN MURRAY, JULIA REILLY, AND THE INCOMPARABLE GLADYS KNIGHT PERFORMING ORIGINAL SONG, ‘JOY,’
PART OF GREAT AMERICAN CHRISTMAS 2024
NEW YORK, NY – July 10, 2024 – Great American Family, an industry leader in the production of quality original holiday content, announced Trevor Donovan (‘Twas the Text Before Christmas, Jingle Bell Princess), Jen Lilley (A Paris Christmas Waltz, “Days Of Our Lives”), Laura Osnes (Candace Cameron Bure Presents: Just In Time, A Dash of Christmas), Jesse Hutch (A Christmas Blessing, B&B Merry), Jillian Murray (A Brush With Christmas), and Julia Reilly (“County Rescue”), star in the network’s first-ever ensemble Christmas Original Movie, A Little Women’s Christmaswhich premieres this holiday season as part of Great American Christmas 2024. Also starring Gladys Knight who performs her new original Christmas song, “Joy.” Great American Christmas is in its fourth season and the franchise has quickly become one of America’s most popular programming events.
A Little Women’s Christmas is a contemporary retelling of the beloved classic novel, following the lives and loves of the March sisters in a small Tennessee town at Christmas. Jo March is played by Jillian Murray, Trevor Donovan is Friedrich “Fritz” Baehr, Meg March is played by Jen Lilley, Laura Osnes plays Beth March, Julia Reilly is Amy March, and John is played by Jesse Hutch. The one-and-only Gladys Knight performs “Joy.”
“A Little Women’s Christmas is a new Christmas classic in the making, with an incredible ensemble cast and an adaptation of an original story that is one of the best I have read,” said Bill Abbott, President & CEO, Great American Media. “Louisa May Alcott was intentional about focusing on the culture of young women, their hopes, ambitions, and dreams, and it remains one of the most widely read and beloved stories ever written,” Abbott concluded.
A Little Women’s Christmas is directed by Brandon Clark. The original movie adaptation is written by Dione Sheehan and Taylor Bird. Executive Producers are Brian Bird, Brandon Clark, Tai Truesdell, Darin Chavez, Brian Williams, Charly White, Lori Overholt, William McDowell, Joyce Miller Roy, Jesse Hutch, and Gladys Knight. Produced by Rodney Eldredge. A Little Women’s Christmas is produced by True Brand Entertainment, Third Coast Film, and Empress of Soul Productions.
ABOUT GREAT AMERICAN FAMILY
Great American Family is America’s premiere destination for quality family-friendly programming, including original holiday movies, rom-coms and fan-favorite series that celebrate faith, family and country. Great American Family is home to year-round seasonal celebrations including Great American Christmas, the network’s signature franchise featuring holiday themed movies and specials. Founded in 2021, Great American Family is part of the Great American Media portfolio of brands.
FOLLOW GREAT AMERICAN FAMILY:
Twitter: @GAfamilyTV
Facebook: @greatamericanfamily
Instagram: @greatamericanfamily
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Pam Slay
Network Program Publicity & Talent Relations
818.415.3784
Great American Family Star Jen Lilley Set to Appear at The Stanford Christmas Parade
40th Anniversary of Historic Parade To Be Featured in Great American Family Holiday Special “Christmas In Kentucky”
STANFORD, KY – November 2, 2022 – Actress, singer and philanthropist Jen Lilley will be the guest of honor at the annual Stanford Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 3 at 6 pm ET. The historic parade held in downtown Stanford celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and will be featured in the upcoming holiday special “Christmas In Kentucky” premiering in December on Great American Family.
Lilley is best known for her long-running roles on NBC’s “Days of Our Lives” and ABC’s “General Hospital,” in addition to her role in the Academy Award-winning film, The Artist. Lilley has also become a mainstay of the popular romantic comedy genre. Her latest leading role is in the upcoming B&B Merry which premieres on Great American Family on Sunday, December 4, and joining Lilley at the Stanford Christmas Parade will be her B&B Merry co-star, Jesse Hutch (“Batwoman,” Dream Wedding). B&B Merry is part of the network’s annual Great American Christmas franchise which features original Christmas movie premieres every weekend, and Christmas movies 24/7, all-day and all-night, through the end of the year.
The Stanford Christmas parade is the town’s largest annual event with thousands of participants and spectators attending each year. More than thirty police officers, firefighters and first responders facilitate the parade together with volunteers from across the county. This year’s parade will feature more than twenty festive floats, fire trucks and police vehicles, youth sports teams of all ages, and more than 50 classic cars, including a signature 1931 Studebaker Fire Truck. Local businesses are encouraged to decorate store windows and floats to match the “Christmas In Kentucky” theme.
First Southern National Bank, Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce, Wilderness Road Hospitality and Great American Family will serve as presenting partners for this year’s parade.
“Christmas traditions in small towns across America are an essential part of our country’s fabric,” said Bill Abbott, President and CEO of Great American Media. “We are so grateful to the town of Stanford for welcoming Great American Family and Jen Lilley to be a part of their historic parade, and we look forward to celebrating the joy and magic of Christmas in Kentucky together with our local partners and the people of Lincoln County.”
“The communities we serve are why First Southern exists,” said First Southern Bancorp, Inc. CEO Jimmy Rousey. “And there is no better time to celebrate community than Christmas and no better place than with our family and friends here in Stanford. Our town has experienced great revitalization over the last decade that has brought this community back to life. We are so thankful for the opportunities this partnership creates for the people of Lincoln County and we hope that our community can be an example for others.”
“Our annual Christmas parade has always been a special event for our town and we know this year will be even better,” said Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Andrea Miller. “It is heartening to see that these organizations and stars like Jen Lilley appreciate the unique values small towns like Stanford contribute to our society as a whole.”
“Small towns offer us the opportunity to slow down and experience peace in our hectic lives.” Wilderness Road Hospitality Co-Founder Angela Correll shares. “We are grateful that Great American Media and Jen Lilley have chosen to shine a spotlight on what makes Stanford special and we can’t wait to share with a broader audience.”
In addition to her work as an actor, Lilley is a singer and songwriter who has also released two popular music albums, including the Christmas album Tinsel Time in 2015. Lilley has also worked tirelessly to raise funds and awareness for foster care and adoption, and is the founder of Christmas Is Not Cancelled, an organization that brings celebrities, brands, and fans together to fundraise for nonprofits, including Toys for Tots, and to provide presents and school supplies for underprivileged children.
Great American Family is available through most cable providers. Visit GreatAmericanFamily.com for help finding the channel on your cable service or text “CHRISTMAS” to 877-999-1225.
###
ABOUT GREAT AMERICAN FAMILY
Great American Family is America’s premiere destination for quality family-friendly programming, including original holiday movies, rom-coms and fan-favorite series that celebrate faith, family and country. Great American Family is home to year-round seasonal celebrations including Great American Christmas, the network’s signature franchise featuring holiday themed movies and specials. Founded in 2021, Great American Family is part of the Great American Media portfolio of brands. Follow Great American Family on Twitter: @GAfamilyTV Facebook: @GAfamilytv Instagram: @gactv
ABOUT FIRST SOUTHERN NATIONAL BANK
Founded in the small town of Stanford, Kentucky in 1983, First Southern National Bank is focused on empowering those in the communities they serve to make wise financial decisions. They have 16 locations across the state of Kentucky, with accounts serviced in 48 states and 7 countries around the world. While First Southern has grown to over $1 billion in assets, they still operate with the small town values that make them different. You can follow First Southern on Facebook: @fsnbky Twitter: @FirstSouthernKY Instagram: @first.southern YouTube: @FirstSouthernBankKY LinkedIn: @first-southern-national-bank
ABOUT LINCOLN COUNTY & THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Formed in 1780, Lincoln County is one of Kentucky’s three original territories. The county was named in honor of Revolutionary Army Officer Benjamin Lincoln who was asked by Congress to conduct the war in the southern states. Lincoln County was home to Kentucky’s first governor, Isaac Shelby; first chartered school in the state; first brick house in Kentucky; first courthouse west of the Alleghenies; first bank west of the Alleghenies; as well as America’s first circular race track. The Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce was formed to organize the businesses of Stanford and the county at large for shared communications, events, and growth. Follow them on Facebook: @QofMain
ABOUT WILDERNESS ROAD HOSPITALITY
Founded by Jess and Angela Correll, Wilderness Road Hospitality began with a mission to bring life back to Stanford’s downtown. The result has been a one-of-a-kind destination for visitors to stay, eat, shop, and relax in a beautiful small town setting. Guests can relax on the front porch of one of their historic guest houses, experience a meal from the world-class culinary team at Bluebird, shop for handmade soap and unique gifts at Kentucky Soaps and Such, and refresh their body and mind by spending a “spa day” at Esther’s Wellhouse. You can follow Wilderness Road Hospitality on Facebook: @wildernessroadhospitality Instagram: @wildernessroadhospitality YouTube: @WildernessRoadHospitality LinkedIn: @wilderness-road-hospitality
MEDIA CONTACTS:
First Southern National Bank Contact:
Suzanne Short
Corporate Spokesperson
606-879-0064
sshort@fsnb.net
Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce Contact:
Andrea Miller
Executive Director
606.365.4118
Wilderness Road Hospitality Contact:
Julie Cox
VP of Hospitality
859-583-4200
Great American Family Contact:
Pam Slay
Network Program Publicity
818.415.3784
Mead Rust
469.663.7717
JEN LILLEY AND JESSE HUTCH SET TO STAR IN
GREAT AMERICAN FAMILY ORIGINAL MOVIE STAY FOR CHRISTMAS
NEW YORK, NY – September 27, 2022 – Great American Family today announced Jen Lilley (“Days of Our Lives,” Royally Wrapped for Christmas) and Jesse Hutch (“Batwoman,” Dream Wedding) are set to star in Stay for Christmas, an original movie which begins production today andpremieres on the network this holiday season. Stay for Christmas is part of Great American Christmas, the network’s holiday programming franchise which returns on October 21 with a new slate of original holiday movie premieres every Saturday and Sunday and Christmas movies all day and all night through the end of 2022.
In Stay for Christmas, renowned luxury travel blogger, Tracey Wise (Lilley) is invited by owner Graham Cooper (Hutch) to a Christmas getaway in exchange for her review of his family’s small bed & breakfast, Silver Peak. The bed & breakfast’s biggest concern is a sleek, upscale hotel resort that opened a hilltop away and has been siphoning off guests for several years, threatening the survival of the family business. Despite her reservations about accepting an invitation from the outdated Silver Peak, Tracey gets caught up in the multi-generational family fight to save a dream. In turn, Tracey will learn the most down home experience can be five-star when it is shared with kindred hearts.
Executive producers of Stay for Christmas are Brad Krevoy, Eric Jarboe, Amanda Phillips, Lorenzo Nardini, Cara J. Russell, Jimmy Townsend, Mike Moran, Jennifer Notas Shapiro, Susanne Belzberg Krevoy, and Doran S. Chandler. Costa Vassos produces. Paula Elle, Ryan Clarke, Priscilla Yeo, and Michael Shepard are supervising producers. Andrew McBride, Olga Devyust, and Vasili Vassos are associate producers. Paula Elle directs from an original screenplay written by Haley Carr and Guy Yosub.
ABOUT GREAT AMERICAN FAMILY
Great American Family is America’s premiere destination for quality family-friendly programming, including original holiday movies, rom-coms and fan-favorite series that celebrate faith, family and country. Great American Family is home to year-round seasonal celebrations including Great American Christmas, the network’s signature franchise featuring holiday themed movies and specials. Founded in 2021, Great American Family is part of the Great American Media portfolio of brands. Follow Great American Family onTwitter: @GAfamilyTV Facebook: @GAfamilytv Instagram: @gactv
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Pam Slay
Network Program Publicity
818.415.3784
Mead Rust
469.663.7717
