LL Cool J to host 'A Very Grammy Christmas' special on CBS

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Actor and hip-hop icon LL Cool J is to host the one-hour television special A Very Grammy Christmas, featuring holiday songs and current pop music hits, CBS announced.

Mary J. Blige has been booked to perform during the program, which will be taped Nov. 18 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles and will air Dec. 5.

Blige will join a lineup that includes previously announced artists Ariana Grande, Maroon 5, Tim McGraw and Pharrell Williams.

Nominations for the 57th annual Grammy Awards will be announced earlier in the day Dec. 5, with the Album of the Year nominees to be revealed on the holiday special broadcast.