Kelly Clarkson and Idina Menzel got a headstart on Christmas on election night

Kelly Clarkson and Idina Menzel refused to let the election night drama ruin their early festive spirit as they recorded the upcoming CMA Country Christmas special on Tuesday night (08Nov16).

As the nation watched as Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton to become the 45th President, the two singers and stars like Kelsea Ballerini, Loretta Lynn, Kacey Musgraves, and Brad Paisley spread a little Christmas cheer at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.

Over 3,500 country fans turned their backs on the election coverage to sing along with the stars, who decorated cookies and Christmas ornaments backstage for an auction to support music education through the CMA Foundation.

The event was hosted by Jennifer Nettles, who told CMT.com she enjoys watching the annual music show, because it's all "a blur" as she presents the acts and performs.

"I'm just so, 'Go! Go! Go! Put me here! Put me there!'" she said, "but I do enjoy that live show vibe, rhythm and pacing. That for me is really fun. I enjoy it differently being in it than I do watching it. But I enjoy both."

And she admitted it was easy picking artists to perform this year as so many, like Musgraves, Lynn, Brett Eldredge, and Rascal Flatts have released 2016 Christmas albums.

"Usually it depends on who has put a Christmas record out," explained Jennifer, who has hosted the show seven times. "It's people wanting to come and celebrate these albums that they've made. This year we have a great crop of artists who have put out records - everybody from Kacey Musgraves to Brett Eldredge to Chris Young."

The CMA Country Christmas special will air on 28 November (16), and among the highlights will be a showstopping collaboration between host Nettles, Lynn, Menzel, Trisha Yearwood and Andra Day.