[MUSIC PLAYING]

Well, Christmastime is here and so are the sounds

of the season-- caroling, sleigh bells,

and the music from the largest concert tour in the world put

together by a legendary band.

NewSong is with us, and Eddie and Rick

are standing here with me.

You say that Christmas is the most special time of the year.

What makes it so special for you?

Well, I think just the memories of family and friends

and the excuse to get everybody together.

We've become such a dispersed people--

That's the truth, isn't it?

--as a society.

Getting everybody together and also just the opportunity

to bring everyone back to the reality

of the meaning of Christmas, and who Jesus is, and why he came.

So you know--

It's a time to pause.

It really is.

During the chaos.

And focus on the nativity story and the reality of that.

Yeah.

I mentioned the magnitude of this tour, which

has become quite significant.

You've been around from the get-go.

Right.

Right.

Talk a little bit about this and how it came to be.

Well, it started really as one night, just an opportunity

for people to come to a concert and not have to buy a ticket.

TERRY MEEUWSEN: Yea.

And made it just really inexpensive.

TERRY MEEUWSEN: What's not to like about that?

Made it really inexpensive.

I think it was $3.

You payed $3 as you came in the door.

TERRY MEEUWSEN: Wow.

And so the people that came out

was just amazing, the crowd that came out.

More than any of us ever dreamed.

So we got real brave and did two the next year.

And now, we do about 60.

TERRY MEEUWSEN: That's called faith.

Yeah.

We do about 16 now, so it's amazing.

It's a wonderful opportunity to hear

some of your favorite people, your favorite music.

I mean, it's a pretty special evening.

You know, this time of the year is

I think for everybody a time where

you want to leave the chaos behind

and you want to come and just have some time

to sit down and reflect.

What do you want the takeaway to be for people

who come to your concert?

Well, a takeaway, as you say, just

have a time to get away and enjoy good Christian music

and also just get together with their family and friends.

And we also make a big deal about sharing the gospel.

Make sure we don't leave them wondering

what we're singing about.

And we take a moment, 10 or 15 minutes of that four hours,

and say, just in case you don't miss it,

this is what we're talking about.

TERRY MEEUWSEN: So I hold in my hand CD.

"The Best Christmas Ever."

You have a new version on here of "The Christmas Shoes," which

I know many of you have heard and love.

What do you think it is about that song that

resonates so well with people?

You know, I think everybody sees a little something

different in it.

It's very compelling obviously.

TERRY MEEUWSEN: Yes.

And the mother, the little boy.

I think there's some little something about that

that touches your heart.

And it's just another amazing God thing,

the little song we didn't know.

We wrote it last minute, and they put it out last minute.

And all of a sudden, it was the number one song in the country.

And ever since then, that's kind of the song we're known for.

So it's just been amazing what God's done with it.

Well, you know, this time of year

is such a wonderful time because of memories and things.

But for a lot of people, it's a very poignant time of year,

you know?

Lots of people maybe aren't at the top

of their game at this time of year, have experienced even

loss.

And yet, there's something about Christmas

that breaks through all of that and brings hope.

Absolutely.

And that's a lot of what you have.

I want to mention you're going to be singing the title

song from the album.

Tell me about that.

Well, we have a friend named Matthew West who's

a pretty prolific songwriter.

And we were out on tour and we begin this conversation

about this song-- and it was really

Eddie's idea to sing a song about-- we

have enough sad songs.

It's kind of like what you were saying.

We have enough sad songs about Christmas.

It's such a time of rejoicing.

And it's a time of renewal and rebirth

of our hope as a people.

And so that was kind of the idea.

But we really wanted it to be something

that was fun and exciting.

And so Eddie and Matthew wrote the song.

And we got in the studio and began to work on it.

And it just felt like it needed to be a duet.

And it felt like it needed to be something that really included

everyone, that was fun, but also very

central in its message of the importance

of that unity of faith in Christ that we share at Christmastime.

I think every year we want it to be the best Christmas ever.

Amen.

You know you find yourself saying that.

I hope this is our best Christmas ever.

Everybody's coming down this year.

And whatever we did wrong last year, we correct it.

Make sure it's the best Christmas ever.

In a sense, if you wrapped it up,

it would be a gift of anticipation.

Right.

Right.

Right.

Right.

Right.

There you go.

Very nice.

I like that.

And I like this, the group and the message that they bring.

I know you do, too.

You can pick up a copy, by the way, of "The Best Christmas

Ever."

Or you can download NewSong's latest CD

wherever you buy music.

But right now, they're going to sing

for us a package all wrapped up with a sense of anticipation,

the title track on the album, "The Best Christmas Ever."

It's so good to have y'all.

Thank you.

Merry Christmas.

Thank you.

Merry Christmas.

It's nice to see you.

And Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas to you two.

[APPLAUSE]

[MUSIC - NEWSONG, "THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER"]

[SINGING] Finished second in the snowball fight.

But some hot chocolate made it all all right.

I could finally feel my fingers.

It's going to be the best Christmas ever.

Yeah.

We're going to need a few more lights

than we got because we just bought the biggest

tree on the lot.

Yeah, we're going all out.

It's going to be the best Christmas ever.

Because when the snow starts falling, friends start calling,

you can feel the love in the air.

Singing carols by the fire, presents piling higher,

it's our favorite time of the year.

Come on let's make this December one to remember, a feeling

we can hold onto.

It's going to be the best Christmas ever,

the best Christmas ever with you.

You.

And you.

Whoa.

The smell of sugar cookies fills the house.

I might have sneaked a couple, but they kicked me out.

I can start my diet next year.

It's going to be the best Christmas ever.

Yeah.

The kids are wide awake.

They should be in bed.

They're trying to catch a peak at the man in red.

I really hope they see him.

It would be the best Christmas ever.

Because when the snow starts falling,

friends come a calling, you can feel the love in the air.

Singing carols by the fire, presents piling higher,

it's my favorite time of the year.

Come on, let's make this December one to remember,

a feeling a we can hold onto.

It's going to be the best Christmas ever, the best

Christmas ever with you and me and all our friends and family.

Singing joy to the world.

Love is come.

Oh, it's come.

Let's light a candle, say a prayer for peace

on Earth everywhere.

Come on, let's get together for the best Christmas ever.

When the snow starts falling, friends come a calling,

you can feel the love in the air.

Singing carols by the fire, presents piling higher,

it's our favorite time of the year.

Come on, let's make this December one

to remember, a feeling we can hold onto.

It's going to be the best Christmas ever, the best

Christmas ever.

Yeah, it's going to be the best Christmas ever, the best

Christmas ever with you.

Oh, yes it is.

Whoa.

The best Christmas ever.

The best Christmas ever.

Woo.

Oh, yeah.

The best Christmas ever.

Best Christmas ever.

Oh, it's going to be, it's going to be with you.

[APPLAUSE]