(Tabernacle Choir singing) - These are voices that I would be humbled and honored to sing with this time, next time, for the rest of my life.

It is so, so special.

Merry Christmas!

The Christmas concert with the Tabernacle Choir is of course renowned for the Christmas element, the Christmas spirit, the joy.

But the way that I connect with this environment is when I remember what Christmases were like with me and my mom growing up.

My mom was the church pianist and choir director at our church, and believe it or not, I was her very free and available and not at all against my will assistant.

She was always introducing me to different kinds of music.

And in that always it was the Tabernacle Choir.

And when I received a call from my management asking if I wanted to be part of the Christmas concert, immediately, first thing called my mom and weeping, I said, "Mom, you're never gonna believe who just invited me to sing with them at Christmas."

♪ It's the spirit of the season ♪ What has been so profoundly impactful, that's exactly it, about preparing for this concert is the collaboration that I felt.

♪ Whatever it is, you need to share it ♪ ♪ It's the spirit of the season ♪ - I can really thrive when I have this kind of team boosting me up from behind.

I'm Ruthie.

It's so nice to meet you.

They wanted to know how they can make me as comfortable, which keys, we went back and forth.

They're very, very flexible.

And the hardest part was walking around in the heels and trying not to trip on a dress.

Mac told me rehearsal on Tuesday night was the very first time that all the puzzle pieces were coming together.

The choir had never sang with the orchestra, the trumpeters, and the handbill choir.

None of the pieces had all worked together yet.

I was so surprised.

Everybody worked so well together and everybody brought their top game and everyone was so welcoming.

I walked on and I wanted to tell them how much I've admired them.

I'm soaking you in.

This is amazing.

Knowing that together we were gonna do something so, so special for millions, it was really impactful for me.

(soulful music) One of the most profound privileges that I have as a performer, especially around Christmas or around holidays that have deep tradition, is that you're not just giving them something to take home that year.

You are also evoking memories from years and decades past.

You never know the way that something is going to influence or unlock something for somebody else.

♪ Like bells in the distance ♪ ♪ Oh little ♪ What I love about "O Little Town of Bethlehem" is that it tells a very full story.

As an actor, it's so juicy to me to be able to jump into a story and tell it my way.

♪ How silently ♪ What the song is saying, "How silently this gift is given to you."

♪ Wondrous gift is given ♪ It's a peaceful town and no one's awake and the gift of the world has just been delivered.

It's such a beautiful thought.

And if somebody viewing can hear the song in a new way, then I know that I would have played my part.

(Tabernacle Choir singing in Latin) When I remember what Christmases were like with me and my mom, we really didn't grow up with a lot of money.

And so holidays for us, were sacrificing our time, our energy, our love, and pouring it into our choir, into our neighbors.

And what I'm reminded about when I am singing here with the Tabernacle Choir is that we are all from the same place.

♪ Gather all the nations ♪ We all share music.

Music is the language of the soul.

♪ Then bow down ♪ And when I see all the flowers and all the costumes and all the voices that have prepared and all the instruments that have been tuned, I am reminded of what Christmas has always meant to me.

Christmas is about serving.

We are together 350 singers speaking the soul's language of love.

(climactic music)