Ruthie Ann Miles and Dennis Haysbert are the latest celebrated performers to join the beloved annual tradition Hope of the Season: Christmas with The Tabernacle Choir, now in its 22nd year. The Emmy-winning actor and Tony Award–winning Broadway star headline the 2025 holiday concert special, filmed at the 21,000-seat Conference Center at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The event, airing throughout the holiday season on PBS and BYUtv, features the choir and orchestra alongside a cast of 500 volunteers. Miles performs a medley of Christmas classics, including “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” as well as “Spirit of the Season” and “Believe” from The Polar Express. Haysbert narrates the nativity story and shares the powerful true story of philanthropist Dr. Charles Mulli, whose humanitarian work moved both the audience and the veteran actor.
Ruthie Ann Miles: A Personal and Emotional Preparation Process
Miles described the preparation for the performance as uniquely meaningful. She spent months revisiting music that shaped her childhood, listening to hymns in English, Korean, and Hawaiian, and consulting with her mother, who introduced her to singing and faith.
“Having my mom in attendance was a gift I never expected,” Miles says. She calls the concert a chance to share her deepest memories and reconnect with her personal history through music.
Miles said being included among the long list of past performers—such as Kristin Chenoweth, Gladys Knight, Walter Cronkite, Jane Seymour, Audra McDonald, and even The Muppets—felt like receiving a baton from artists she admires.
Dennis Haysbert: Narration, Vulnerability and Legacy
For Haysbert, the event was unlike anything he has experienced in his decades-long career, which includes major roles in 24, The Unit, and the Major League films.
“It was nothing short of incredible. I’ve never experienced anything like this before,” he said, describing how emotional he became while narrating Dr. Mulli’s story when he unexpectedly met him in person.
Haysbert also reflected on the way audiences recognize him for both dramatic roles and his iconic advertising work. Despite stepping away from Allstate commercials years ago, fans still identify him instantly by voice: “It always tickles me. It beats the alternative.”
How to Watch Hope of the Season
Premiere Date: December 15 at 8/7c on PBS
Repeats: December 24
Streaming: Available through January 1 on PBS.org and the PBS app
BYUtv: Airing December 18 at 8/7c, with repeats through Christmas Day and streaming on BYUtv platforms
The 90-minute concert special features storytelling, classic hymns, and musical theater selections celebrating themes of community, compassion and holiday hope.
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