People & Entertainment

A very merry Colbert

Forget the sugarplums. Let visions of Stephen Colbert in furry boots dance in your head.

Colbert will host a holiday special, A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All, at 10 p.m. Sunday on Comedy Central.

The special was originally planned for last Christmas but was delayed a year when Colbert became swamped during his brief run for president in the South Carolina primary. Instead, the special was taped mostly over a three-week period in August.

The 44-year-old comedian sings a duet with Willie Nelson, who appears as a tiny Wise Man in a miniature Nativity scene. Other guests include Toby Keith, Jon Stewart and John Legend.

The show concludes with Colbert and Elvis Costello singing that "there are much worse things" than believing in Christmas.

Costumes from the special are being auctioned to benefit Feeding America, and a percentage of the DVD proceeds will go to the charity.

today's birthdays

Baseball Hall-of-Famer Stan Musial, 88.

Actress Marlo Thomas, 71.

Singer Dr. John, 68.

Actress Goldie Hawn, 63.

Actress Nicollette Sheridan, 45.

Singer Bjork, 43.