Lifetime Greenlights Holiday Movies Starring Mario Lopez, Jana Kramer, Brooke Elliott, Patti LaBelle & Keshia Knight Pulliam

EXCLUSIVE: Lifetime is already in the Christmas spirit, announcing three new movies for its annual It’s a Wonderful Lifetime holiday slate.

Patti LaBelle and Keshia Knight Pulliam (Married at First Sight: Afterparty) will star in New Orleans Noel, which also features Tim Reid and Brad James, Pulliam’s real-life husband. Pulliam also executive produces alongside Whoopi Goldberg (Caught In His Web). Mario Lopez and Jana Kramer will star in and executive produce the dance-centric pic, Untitled Mario Lopez/Jana Kramer Holiday Movie (wt), which also stars comedian Cheri Oteri and Lopez’s wife, Courtney Lopez; and Drop Dead Diva alumna Brooke Elliott returns to Lifetime to headline and executive produce A Country Christmas Harmony with her Sweet Magnolias co-stars, Brandon Quinn and Danny Pintauro.

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Here are complete details for the three films, provided by Lifetime.

A New Orleans Noel

Grace Hill (Pulliam) and Anthony Brown (James) could not be more different. Despite having gone to college to study architecture together, their lives took them on completely separate paths. However, when they’re both hired to work together on the home of Loretta Brown (LaBelle)—a New Orleans praline icon —the two find themselves working together at Christmas…and butting heads over more than just architecture. When Anthony and his family discover that Grace will be celebrating Christmas alone, they invite her to take part in their traditions and their celebrations. Soon, fiercely independent Grace begins to learn the importance of family and community, while modern Anthony learns to embrace tradition and the magic of Christmas. But when Grace is offered a new job far away from New Orleans she’ll have to decide if she’ll leave, or follow her heart.

Tim Reid stars as Marcel Lirette, a handsome, retired friend who moves back to town after years away and catches the eye of Lorretta.

A New Orleans Noel is produced by Evergreen Films with Daniel Lewis, Rick Carter, Whoopi Goldberg, Tom Leonardis and Keshia Knight Pulliam serving as Executive Producers. Script by Angela Tucker and Alys Murray and directed by Angela Tucker.

A Country Christmas Harmony

Personal Courtesy/Matthew Murphy

Before Chrissy Kessler’s (Elliott) meteoric rise to fame, the country music superstar was just a small-town girl with dreams of the big time. Now, with her record sales on a rapid decline, Chrissy is strong-armed by an unrelenting record executive to return to the hometown she left behind to perform a live Christmas concert. Accompanying her on this journey is her longtime supportive assistant Eugene (Pintauro). Luke Covington’s (Quinn) quiet life is suddenly disrupted when he runs into Chrissy, his ex-girlfriend and former country music duo partner, who disappeared on him to pursue her solo career, all those years ago. After a tempestuous rainstorm forces the ex-sweethearts to seek shelter in Luke’s ranch home, the two realize that the only way they’ll survive the holidays is with the other one’s help.

A Country Christmas Harmony is produced by MarVista Entertainment and The Ninth House. Megan Ellstrom, Larry Grimaldi, Hannah Pillemer and Fernando Szew executive produce for MarVista Entertainment and Autumn Federici and Jake Helgren produce for The Ninth House. Elliott also serves as executive producer. Gary Entin and Edmund Entin write and direct.

Elliott is repped by Innovative Artists, Vault Entertainment and Gochman Law Group. Quinn is repped by Joel King at Pakula King. Pintauro is repped by Jeremy Katz at The Katz Company.

Untitled Mario Lopez/Jana Kramer Holiday Movie (wt)

Personal Courtesy

Former Broadway star, Billy Holiday (Lopez), returns to his hometown for Christmas after being abruptly fired as the host-producer-judge of the hit TV series “Celebrity Dance Off.” While there, he encounters Rae (Kramer), the charismatic owner of the local dance studio, where Billy’s 12-year-old nephew is her standout student. This Christmas Rae is planning a dance recital fundraiser with the goal of taking her students to see a Broadway show in New York City. Billy volunteers to help Rae with the recital by reviving the town’s traditional Christmas Eve show which was once a showcase for local talent. With Billy’s knack for producing and Rae’s knowledge of all things local, their collaboration clicks, and romantic sparks start flying!

Cheri Oteri stars as Dallas, Billy’s high-powered, fast talking Hollywood agent and Mario’s real-life wife, Courtney Lopez stars as Joanna, the charismatic host of “Celebrity Dance Off” who has just replaced Billy as executive producer and head judge.

Untitled Mario Lopez/Jana Kramer Holiday Movie (wt) is produced by Via Mar and Roberts Media, LLC. with Jeff Stearns, Mark Roberts, Mario Lopez and Jana Kramer serving as Executive Producers. David Kendall directs from a script by Aliza Murrieta and Peter Murrieta.

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