Longtime Hallmark fan favorite James Denton is back! The “Good Witch” alum has been in his hometown of Nashville filming with the star-studded cast of Hallmark Channel’s “Grand Ole Opry Christmas,” Variety reported on August 27, 2025.
Denton was one of four more cast members announced for the movie, which stars Hallmark royalty Kristoffer Polaha and Nikki DeLoach, and marks the first partnership between Hallmark and the Grand Ole Opry, currently celebrating its 100th anniversary.
Variety confirmed Sharon Lawrence is part of the cast, which Polaha first revealed in photos on August 23. Also joining the movie, which will include Brad Paisley and 12 other country music acts, are actors Rob Mayes and Luke Benward.
James Denton Says He’s Loving Experience of Filming ‘A Grand Ole Opry Christmas’
On August 28, The Tennessean published video footage of Denton on the set of “A Grand Ole Opry Christmas,” telling the outlet how much fun he was having.
“I grew up here,” he said. “The house I grew up in is like four miles from here. So, definitely, it’s a home game for me. This is the first movie I’ve done in a long time that I didn’t produce, which is really fun ’cause it’s a lot less work.”
Hallmark announced on August 11 that Polaha and DeLoach would soon reunite for “A Grand Ole Opry Christmas” — 20 years after they became good friends while co-starring on the Fox TV series “North Shore.”
Calling “A Grand Ole Opry Christmas” a “magical trip across time,” Hallmark Media’s synopsis of the movie centers around Gentry Woods, played by DeLoach, who’s the daughter of late country music icon Jett Woods, half of the famed duo Winter and Woods.
The logline says Gentry “abandoned her dream of a songwriting career and distanced herself from her father’s legacy following his tragic car accident 30 years prior. When the Grand Ole Opry invites her to represent Jett at their centennial celebration at Christmas, she’s hesitant to return to the place steeped in bittersweet memories. Encouraged by her good friends, Gentry visits the Opry and, while seated in one of the vaunted venue’s oak church pews, is suddenly transported to 1995.”
Denton confirmed to The Tennessean he plays half of the country duo Woods & Winters, noting that it’s “not a big role.” We’re guessing he’ll play Gentry’s dad, given that through her time traveling, Variety reported, “Gentry gets precious time with her father, creative inspiration to finish the song she began decades earlier as a teen and learns surprising answers to questions about her father that have followed her for the last three decades.”
According to Variety, Lawrence will play Rita, Jett Wood’s cousin, who “has remained closed with Gentry and encourages her to accept the Opry’s invitation to participate in their Christmas special, where they’re honoring Winters & Woods.”
‘A Grand Ole Opry Christmas’ Also Features Star-Studded Lineup of Country Artists
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMediaHallmark previously announced that Brad Paisley, a longtime Opry member, is expected to perform in the movie, making this the first time he’s in a Hallmark holiday flick instead of his wife, Kimberly Williams Paisley (as of August 25, she hadn’t been confirmed for any new Hallmark movies and is filming the new series “Nashville 9-1-1”).
In a press statement on August 11, Paisley said, “The Hallmark Channel to me is a major part of finding the joy and the spirit of the holidays. We turn it on and leave it on in our house like Christmas tree lights or decorations, it’s a major part of the atmosphere for us.”
“I loved the challenge of creating that same magic with this music,” he continued, “by letting it take you to the same place that these movies and this world Hallmark has built. Can’t wait for you to hear what all we’ve done. Also, knowing the Opry is the setting for one of these movies is very inspiring.”
On August 25, Hallmark announced that a dozen other country acts would join Paisley in the movie. The full list was announced on the “TODAY Show” that morning. It includes 2024 CMA New Artist of the Year Megan Moroney, country legend Bill Anderson, Jamey Johnson, Rhett Akins, bluegrass duo Dailey & Vincent, Drew Baldridge, Maggie Baugh, Suzy Bogguss, sister duo Tigirlily Gold, Mickey Guyton, Pam Tillis, and the band Riders in the Sky.
“A Grand Ole Opry Christmas” will be part of Hallmark’s 16th annual Countdown to Christmas lineup of movies and series.
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