Oliver Hudson: The King of Christmas Entertainment

When it comes to holiday cheer, few celebrities are as passionate as Oliver Hudson. The 49-year-old actor has recently taken on two major Christmas projects that have solidified his status as the "King of Christmas" entertainment.

This month, Hudson premiered as the host of "Gingerbread Land: The Biggest Little Holiday Competition" on the Magnolia Network and Food Network. The show features contestants working in teams to create intricate gingerbread structures from scratch, competing for a grand prize of $100,000.

Contestants on 'Gingerbread Land' compete to create intricate gingerbread structures. - Image from https://duckduckgo.com/?origin=funnel_home_website&t=h_&q=Gingerbread+Land+competition+show+contestants+creatng+gingerbread+houses&ia=images&iax=images&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FZ-6EQRMQ-VU%2Fmaxresdefault.jpg

"There were moments where I'm like, 'Oh, my God,' " Hudson shared in an interview with USA TODAY. "I don't want to go full sob on a (Chip and Joanna) Gaines Christmas gingerbread bake-off, where the host is completely losing it."

The actor was particularly moved by the contestants and their stories. "Hearing their backstories and learning about the gingerbread community, which sounds completely nuts, but there is a national champion who was one of our contestants," Hudson explained. "There's competitions all over the country. I mean, this is a real thing."

Hudson isn't just hosting holiday shows—he's also starring in them. He currently appears in the Netflix film "A Merry Little Ex-Mas," where he plays a soon-to-be-divorced husband trying to have a peaceful Christmas with his ex-wife (Alicia Silverstone), whose plans are complicated when his new girlfriend (Jameela Jamil) arrives.

Hudson with his stepdad Kurt Russell, who influenced his love for holiday traditions. - Image from https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/tv/articles/oliver-hudson-reveals-stepdad-kurt-205420667.html

Family Traditions and Kurt Russell's Influence

What fuels Hudson's Christmas spirit? It's largely thanks to his stepdad, Kurt Russell, who has been creating magical holiday moments for the family for decades. Hudson credits Russell with instilling in him a deep love for the holiday season.

"Russell created this scenario with Santa and reindeer and bells and everything on the roof," Hudson recalled of his first Christmas morning in Colorado at age 7. "That was so magical. And it set our belief in stone, right in that moment."

"I'm 49 and I still get all jacked up for it. It's so fun." - Oliver Hudson on his family Christmas traditions

The Hudson family, which includes mom Goldie Hawn and siblings Kate and Wyatt, continues these traditions to this day, celebrating Christmas at Russell's cabin in Colorado. Russell even goes as far as writing in "Santa's handwriting" a naughty-or-nice list on paper, complete with burned edges, that is left by Santa's milk on Christmas morning.

When asked about his family's gingerbread skills, Hudson revealed that his sister Kate would likely win any family competition. "I have a problem that I get into things hardcore and I'll buy everything," he admitted. "And then in a month, I've lost interest."

As Hudson continues to bring joy to audiences through his holiday projects, it's clear that his genuine passion for Christmas is what makes him stand out in the crowded field of holiday entertainment.