A Country Christmas Story on Lifetime

Category: Television and Streaming

 

Desiree Ross stars in a story of love and desire. Young Grace (Ross) is maneuvering life in her small Appalachian town. Grace is a fabulous student who excels in math. She also is part of the church choir where she excels as a singer. The former pleases her mother Jenny (Megyn Price) but the latter causes her distress.

Jenny’s husband Danny (Brian McKnight) has been living apart from the family for many years. Grace hasn’t seen her father in over three years. She is confused about what happened between her parents.

When Grace is prompted to enter Dolly Parton’s new “Country Star of Tomorrow” contest, she fears she won’t have a chance. After all, she is part black and part white. How could a black girl win a country music contest? But as her teacher (Ross McCall) explains to her, there have been many black country stars and even the Grand Ol’ Opry has been part of black country music history. Encouraged by this new understanding of country music, Grace sets out to learn the guitar, write an original song, and enter the contest, all behind her mother’s back.

 

When Jenny learns that her daughter has been skipping computer club in favor of guitar lessons, she is furious. Grace moves in with her grandmother (Mary Kay Place) where her music thrives, but her emotions fall. This young teenager misses her mother, and, truth be told, she misses her father too. So, her entry into the music contest is appropriately titled “Miss You Miss Me.”

 

Grace’s journey from discovering her music talent to the contest in Dollywood takes one year. In that year a lot of emotions overcome the family, Grace learns why her parents separated, she learns about the history of black singers in the world of country music, and she learns to follow her dream. In the end, well, you’ll just have to watch the movie to see what happens. No spoiler alert here. I will just say that the movie leaves viewers feeling satisfied.

Dolly Parton appears several times in the film, as herself, of course.

Desiree Ross is a talented young actress who began her professional career last year. I am sure, after watching her performance in this movie, viewers will agree this young girl has a long career in front of her.

 

A Country Christmas Story premiers November 9, 2013 on Lifetime.