Lifetime is gifting viewers a mother-daughter first: Brandy Norwood will lead and exec-produce Christmas Everyday, starring opposite her real-life daughter, Sy’Rai Smith, who makes her acting debut. The film headlines Lifetime’s annual It’s a Wonderful Lifetime slate and folds music from Brandy’s 2023 holiday album into a family story about love, loss, and keeping traditions alive.
What we know so far
- The story & roles. Brandy plays Francine “Fancy” Ballantine, a devoted fashion designer determined to preserve her late father’s Christmas traditions while supporting her mother Evelyn (played by Debbi Morgan), who’s beginning to lose her sight. Sy’Rai portrays Belle, Fancy’s spirited “bridezilla” younger sister whose wedding prep collides with the holidays.
- Behind the camera. The movie is directed by Roger Bobb from a script by Meg DeLoatch and Cameron Ross; it’s produced by FOX Entertainment Studios and distributed internationally by FOX Entertainment Global. Brandy serves as an executive producer alongside Stella Bulochnikov, Dr. Holly Carter, and Ryan Ramsey.
- Music tie-in. The title nods to Brandy’s holiday track “Christmas Everyday” from her 2023 album Christmas with Brandy—expect the film to weave in that music and spirit.
- Premiere timing. Lifetime has announced the film, but has not released an airdate yet.
Onscreen, the film centers a family navigating grief, caregiving, and celebration—timely themes for many households. Offscreen, it marks a generational handoff: Sy’Rai stepping into acting alongside a mom audiences have grown up with (from Moesha to Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella). For viewers who watch holiday movies with parents, kids, and grandparents, this pairing is an easy entry point into a multigenerational watch.
Why it matters (beyond the headline)
Representation & resonance. Lifetime and peer networks keep expanding holiday casts and stories; Christmas Everyday adds a Black family-led narrative that blends romance, tradition, and caregiving.
Holiday-movie momentum. Appetite for cozy, comfort-watch Christmas films remains real: Hallmark’s 2024-2025 holiday runs again topped cable among key demos, with marquee weekends drawing millions of unduplicated viewers. That genre tailwind helps new entries like Lifetime’s tentpoles cut through.
Director Roger Bobb (a veteran of holiday romances) plus showrunner-writer Meg DeLoatch (known for warm, family-centered comedy) suggest a tone that’s heartfelt without being syrupy. Layer in Debbi Morgan, whose grounded presence often gives holiday fare real stakes, and the film has the ingredients to balance sparkle with substance.
What to watch for
- Music moments. Will “Christmas Everyday” score the big set piece? Expect at least one performance-forward scene.
- Fashion as character. With Fancy as a designer, costume choices can be storytelling, not just wardrobe.
- Sister dynamic. A bridezilla arc can drift campy; the real test is whether Fancy and Belle’s relationship lands emotionally amid the chaos.
Holiday movies win when they honor what many of us live each December: juggling family logistics, illness or caregiving, and a stubborn insistence on joy anyway. By pairing Brandy and Sy’Rai on screen, and anchoring the plot in traditions worth fighting for, Christmas Everyday aims squarely for that universal sweet spot: families evolving, love expanding, and music pulling everyone back to the table.
