CBS announced singer/songwriter and occasional actor Josh Groban will headline the 2017 A Home for the Holidays special. The one-hour special celebrates adoptions and features “uplifting stories of adoption from foster care and raises awareness of this important social issue. The inspirational stories of these American families are enhanced with performances by some of today’s most popular artists.”
The network also confirmed that in addition to Josh Groban, Kelly Clarkson, Kacey Musgraves, and Kane Brown will perform. Mike Simon is directing, and Karen Mack, Stu Schreiberg, Stephen Kroopnick and Marilyn Seabury are involved as executive producers.
The 19th annual special is set to air on Tuesday, December 19th at 8pm ET/PT.
CBS released details on the families who will be spotlighted in the 19th annual A Home for the Holidays special:
Dennis Family (Norfolk, Va.)
Reporter Staci Dennis had been working on a story about a child who had aged out of foster care, and said, “That experience had an impact on both my husband and I, and we chose to adopt a hard-to-place foster child at risk of aging out.” In 2013 Staci and her husband Eric found Kylie’s photo on an adoption web site.
“Kylie was considered almost un-adoptable,” Staci said. “She had lived in fear and chaos for 13 years and we wanted to give her the opportunity to see who she really was.” “I was born into foster care,” Kylie said. “Foster homes, group homes and institutional facilities – I was moved through them all. My life was about survival. I ran away four times. By 12, I’d been placed on 14 prescription pills a day. I didn’t think I had a future.” Today, Kylie is on her school track and field team, plays volleyball and is a great sister to 17-year-old Angie, who joined the Dennis family this summer. “It turns out that I didn’t need any of those prescription drugs. All I needed was to be nurtured,” said Kylie.
Fisher Family (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Jen and Jeff Fisher were the proud parents of two children when they found three remarkable kids in a heartbreaking situation. “I met Tannah and her little brother Teagun while I was working for a drug rehab facility where they would visit their biological mother, who was my client,” said Jen. “When I was little, our parents did drugs, and I never knew who they were going to be. I was super scared because no one was ever there for us,” said Tannah. “One day, their biological mother called me and asked me to take her newborn, who was severely drug-addicted and now in state custody,” said Jen.
Not only did the Fishers embrace the infant, Tallie, but they soon welcomed Tannah and her little brother into their family after the kids were placed in foster care. “I am so happy and grateful. We are finally safe, and Tallie will never have to live like my little brother and I did,” said Tannah.
Thompson Family (Poteau, Okla.)
Officer Jody Thompson and his wife, Jeannie, had two sons before a 9-1-1 child abuse call changed their family’s life forever. “When the call came out, I prepared for the worst and prayed for the best,” said Officer Thompson. When he arrived on the scene, he found John, an 8-year-old boy who had been starved, had his wrists bound, and was left submerged in a trash can of ice water with the lid attached. The child’s body was covered in abrasions. “I just looked at him and thought, ‘Man, you are an incredibly brave boy.’” Thompson continued. “I was so happy that Jody stayed with me at the hospital that night. I knew he would protect me,” said John. “The next morning I knew the only way I would feel that John was safe was if he was with me,” said Officer Thompson.
When the Thompsons learned that John’s biological sister had been born in prison, they adopted her too. Today, the Thompson kids are thriving and John is a straight-A honor roll student. “I decided to share my story because I don’t want other kids to suffer like I did,” said John. “If you see something, please say something. Kids just want to feel safe – and now we are!”
Black Family (Rochester, N.Y.)
Veronica Black was a successful single mom when she decided to adopt from foster care. “I came from a big family,” said Black. “I wanted my 6-year-old son, Styles, to grow up with siblings.” In 2007 she adopted 7-year-old Lennon, who had been placed in foster care as an infant. Over the years, his siblings had been adopted, but Lennon was left alone. “When I was little, I had a ‘list of wishes’ and I never gave up hope that one day some would come true… then I met my mom and they all came true,” said Lennon.
Six years later, Black adopted brothers – 7-year-old Ian and 5-year-old Jaubert, who had been living in separate foster homes and had been part of a horrific child abuse case. Today, Black’s four sons are thriving in school and active in lacrosse, football and the school wrestling team. “Today my boys are truly happy kids, and watching them grow up is such a blessing,” said Black.
