For a second year in a row, Kansas City will appear in a Hallmark Christmas movie following the ratings success of last year’s “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.”
This time, Kansas City will stand in for Nashville in a time-traveling movie spotlighting the historic home of country music, the Grand Ole Opry, Hallmark officials tell The Star.
This is the first time Hallmark has teamed up with the Grand Ole Opry, which is celebrating its 100th year.
Filming took place Friday at the historic Crestwood Shops along 55th Street between Brookside Boulevard and Oak Street.
Production began in late August at iconic locations, including the Grand Ole Opry House, according to Hallmark.
“A Grand Ole Opry Christmas” stars Hallmark Channel favorites Nikki DeLoach (”Curious Caterer Mysteries,” “Our Holiday Story”) and Kristoffer Polaha (”A Biltmore Christmas,” “The Christmas Quest”).
Country star Brad Paisley will write and perform original music for the film. The Grammy winner will also write and record the anthem for the Hallmark Channel’s 2025 holiday campaign.
The movie will debut during the channel’s 16th annual Countdown to Christmas.
Photos of the movie set popped up on social media Friday. One Hallmark movie fan posted a brief video of Polaha sending a greeting to her mother from near the set. “We’re on the set of ‘A Grand Ole Opry Christmas,’” he said.
Here’s the movie plot, according to Hallmark:
Gentry Woods (DeLoach), the daughter of late country music icon Jett Woods — half of the famed duo Winter and Woods — has abandoned her songwriting dream and distanced herself from her father’s musical legacy after a fatal car accident 30 years ago.
When the Grand Ole Opry invites her to represent her father at the centennial celebration at Christmas, bittersweet memories hold her back. Friends encourage her to visit the Opry.
While sitting in one of the venue’s historic oak church pews she is transported to 1995.
Her lifelong friend Mac (Polaha), a country music talent manager, winds up in 1995, too. Christmas magic gives her more time to spend with her father, inspiring her to finish a song she began decades earlier and giving her answers to unanswered questions about her father.
“As the Grand Ole Opry celebrates its 100th birthday this year, this is the perfect time for us to partner with this beloved, iconic American institution and create Christmas magic together,” Darren Abbott, Hallmark’s chief brand officer, said in a statement.
“Nikki and Kris are fan favorites and we know they will beautifully bring to life this emotional and heartfelt story that is sure to become an instant classic.”
“Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story,” became one of Hallmark Channel’s most popular holiday movies last year. Hallmark filmed the movie in various locations around Kansas City, including pivotal scenes on the Independence Square and at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, several players, Chiefs cheerleaders, KC Wolf and Donna Kelce, mother of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, all appeared in the movie. A red carpet event at Crown Center marked the debut in November.
Hallmark executives who came to Kansas City during filming talked of how they and the movie’s stars loved working here,
Much of that had to do with passionate Chiefs fans.
“I never realized how dedicated the Chiefs fans were until filming this movie,” actress Hunter King told The Star. “It’s part of the reason why I think I fell in love with the Chiefs and with Kansas City. I mean, the fans are just so loyal. Just like Hallmark fans.”
For the Grand Ole Opry movie, Hallmark is launching an exclusive collection of products, including greeting cards, jewelry and gift items, for celebrating the holidays with country style.
The collection will be available later this year at Hallmark.com, Shop.Opry.com, The Opry Shops in Nashville and the Hallmark Christmas Experience at Crown Center, which returns for a second year.