Sacred arias and Christmas carols have been an essential component of Andrea Bocelli’s record-breaking career in the fields of pop and classical music. Now, the Italian tenor celebrates both on Christmas with "Andrea Bocelli and Friends: A GRAMMY Holiday Special," which aired Christmas Eve 2024 on the CBS Television Network and is now streaming live and on-demand on Paramount+.

Since he became an international star in 1996 with the haunting melody of "Con Te Partiró", Bocelli — now the best-selling singer in the history of classical music — has always demonstrated an obsessive attention to detail in putting together his albums, tours and visuals. This year’s Christmas special is no exception. Shot live in front of thousands of fans, the special finds Bocelli joined by his family and a gallery of singing heavyweights, accompanied by a full symphony orchestra and choir.

A charismatic MC, the tenor showcases his placid demeanor and sense of humor when introducing his guests and presenting the evening’s repertoire. The purity of his love for music — all kinds of music — shines through whenever he addresses the crowd.

Learn more: 5 Andrea Bocelli Songs To Know: From "Con Te Partiró" To "Perfect Symphony"

Here are five poignant moments from "Andrea Bocelli and Friends: A GRAMMY Holiday Special" that will be remembered as a timeless celebration of the Christmas spirit and stunning musicianship. 

Nothing Beats Celebrating Christmas With Your Loved Ones

Bocelli kicked off the GRAMMY Holiday Special in style with an enchanting version of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" together with his wife and manager, Veronica Berti, and their 12-year-old daughter Virginia. The tenor included this song in his 2009 album My Christmas, and the live performance reproduced the children’s choir of the original version. "Christmas is the most beautiful day of the year," said Bocelli, clearly overjoyed to be singing with his family.

Some Collaborations Feel Like An Answer To A Prayer

Bocelli enjoyed a huge hit early in his career when he recorded "The Prayer" (from the animated film Quest for Camelot) as a duet with Celine Dion. Released in 1999, the track was greeted with critical acclaim and was nominated for a GRAMMY Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. 

On this occasion, Bocelli invited the song’s co-writer, Canadian producer David Foster, to play the piano as he performed "The Prayer" with powerhouse vocalist Jennifer Hudson. "This is a dream come true," Hudson said before trading lines with the tenor in English and Italian. A vocal tour de force, the performance was greeted with a standing ovation.

Old Friendships Are Worth A Duet

When Bocelli released his sixteenth studio outing, Sì, in 2018, the collection reached the top of the album charts on both sides of the Atlantic on the strength of the singer’s duets with Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa and Bocelli’s son Mateo. One of the session’s most memorable moments was the now-classic collaboration with Josh Groban on "We Will Meet Once Again" — a track that Groban also co-wrote. 

The Los Angeles-born singer was one of the television special’s guests, and the pair’s rendition of the song was stirring. Introducing Groban, Bocelli expressed his gratitude for their decades-old friendship.

Some Christmas Classics Are Truly Evergreen

Sofia Carson released her first album in 2015 — the soundtrack to the Disney film Descendents – but the actress and singer from Florida appears not only once, but twice on Bocelli’s recently released Duets (30th Anniversary) compilation. Together, they perform a lilting version of Henry Mancini’s "Blue Moon," as well as the Irving Berlin 1942 standard "White Christmas." 

"Andrea, to sing with you feels like a thousand dancing snowflakes," said Carson. "To sing with you feels like soaring through a star-filled night. To sing with you is my Christmas wish come true — Merry Christmas, Andrea." True to this message, their live rendition of "White Christmas" was transcendent.

Guest Singers Are Wonderful — But The Real Star Of The Show Was Bocelli Himself

Bocelli elicited a roar of laughter when he asked the capacity audience if it was alright that he performed a song on his own. His choice was especially poignant — he delved back into the beginning of his career for a track off 1999’s Sacred Arias, the all-time best selling classical album by a solo artist. His reading of "Adeste Fideles (O Come, All Ye Faithful)," the Christmas carol attributed to 18th century English composer John Francis Wade, was simply exquisite — the best possible ending of an unforgettable recital.