UPDATE:  Carrie Underwood's Holiday Special is now streaming on FOX ON DEMAND.  Watch it again!

Nigel Lythgoe, who is the Executive Producer and Co-Director of the Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special, revealed details of the TV special on a recent press call.

The Carrie Underwood holiday special came about pretty naturally. "I think it's something that FOX always wanted," Nigel admitted. "We're all Carrie Underwood fans. The whole show, I think, goes back to the old variety days, but with a modern spin. It's delightful, I must say, for the holiday period."

As the former Executive Producer of American Idol, Nigel has known Carrie for a while, even back before she was the star she is today. Nigel mentioned that during auditions, "We always had titles for people so we'd remember them. She was called 'Farm Girl.'" Though she may have come from a small town, Carrie is now a big star. "What she's developed into is an out-and-out true star," Nigel boasted. "As you'll see on this special, it's not just about her singing, it's about her comedy timing and everything else. She just handles herself as though she's been in the business for 20 years and not the 4 or 5 that she's been in now. This truly is watching somebody's journey grow in the public spotlight."

Nigel gave a few hints at what the show will incorporate. "We're including Carrie's family in it and characters on the side of the stage, so as she walks offstage she goes into another situation. Her dog, Ace, is involved. I'm not allowed to tell you who voiced Ace, but Ace takes us through a day in his life. It's just a lot of fun. Add to that Carrie's new album tracks, Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, David Cook, Kristin Chenoweth, and Christina Applegate, and you've got a variety show!"

Nigel said he was like a proud father to have American Idol champs David Cook and Carrie Underwood on the stage together. He's just proud in general: "I went to the AMAs and Carrie Underwood was on that, and Kelly Clarkson and Adam Lambert and Kris Allen. You're always so proud. You think without American Idol these kids wouldn't be here; they wouldn't be selling millions of records. So there's this constant feeling of sort of being the father."

Some of Nigel's favorite things about the holiday special are that Carrie's "real sister and her mum take part in the show, and the very fact that Carrie is up there to be self-deprecating. You don't get that very often nowadays and it's a beautiful quality, one that I hope she never loses."

View photos from Carried Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special.

Carrie Underwood: An All Star Holiday Special is now streaming on FOX.com. Watch the special now!